Anyone who has been in the downtown Syracuse
Smiths is a 116 year old fifth generation family business located in an 1840's Erie canal building in the center of downtown Syracuse, specializing in commercial and gourmet kitchen equipment & supplies.
Although the business started as a crockery store and moved into a “storefront” operation, Smiths is booming and full of life.
“The restaurant supply store not only offers an opportunity for the professionals to shop, but also for the homeowner as well,” owner M. John Kuppermann says.
With the business starting five generations ago, Smiths has grown from its humble immigrant roots into a versatile company with many departments. It now occupies the 32,000 square foot building as a full retail store and a large warehouse for shipping to the business end.
“With the business being around for over 100 years it has had to adapt and change,” states Mike Whitney, general manager. “Back in the 1970s to 1980s Kuppermann’s grandfather got the idea to supply homes and not just be a restaurant supply store. We find it a very natural fit,” says Whitney.
“From the days when my great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather operated a store front from their home on Grape Street, Smiths continues to maintain the finest display showroom and best stocked warehouse in Upstate New York. There are approximately 18,000 items in inventory contained within two floors of public showrooms and six floors of warehouse,” Kuppermann states.
“The territory for the store used to beNew York State
Smiths has been making significant changes in past couple of months. It started three years ago with the addition of theWatertown store, a “mini-me” version of the store in Syracuse
Both Kuppermann and Whitney explain, “We are trying to get back to our basics, back to our roots.”
The business is a three part one. First is the retail side of it, second the commercial side, and third the contract side. Several different government-run venues will put out a bid for services. These venues include public schools.
The Dining Alliance has recently named Smiths as a preferred vendor.
“We work a little with chains, but not very much. We’ve always dealt with the independent companies. We fell that the successful operators are family businesses,” Kuppermann states.
Having the government contracts translates to a strong buying position. It makes Smiths very commodity driven which is great for the consumer. Now the customer can buy in store and get the benefits of a volume buy.
Smiths has recently started doing bridal registries. The benefit to this is that Smiths carries the commercial equipment that some home owners want for their own. “We’re like Bed,Bath
They ship everyday and will make local deliveries. There is no minimum order for free delivery in the area.
“Even with our 18,000 item inventory, we still have to do special orders,” claims Kuppermann. “But we’ll get it, there is very little we don’t do.”
Smiths also roasts its own coffee. They buy green beans of the Arabica type. These beans are grown in high places, mostly on the sides of mountains, and are hand picked. The beans are mostly fair trade and organic.
“The coffee was my father’s brain child,” states Kuppermann.
Smiths has been roasting coffee for 25 years and was the first in the community to do so. They are the first independent roaster in the area. “My father was way ahead of the community in his thinking,” says Kuppermann.
Kuppermann explains that the coffee is never more than 36 hours old. After that, it just goes stale. He recommends that the customer never buy more than what they will go through in two weeks.
There are several varieties of coffee available as well as some blends. “We even do some private blends for the commercial side,” states Kuppermann.
“And take it black,” Kuppermann brags. “We want you to taste the flavor of the coffee, not the additives.”
Smith Housewares is available online at www.smithrestaurantsupply.com and most of the promotions they offer can be found on their Facebook page. The store is open Monday thru Friday 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday 10 am to 1 pm.
Although the business started as a crockery store and moved into a “storefront” operation, Smiths is booming and full of life.
“The restaurant supply store not only offers an opportunity for the professionals to shop, but also for the homeowner as well,” owner M. John Kuppermann says.
With the business starting five generations ago, Smiths has grown from its humble immigrant roots into a versatile company with many departments. It now occupies the 32,000 square foot building as a full retail store and a large warehouse for shipping to the business end.
“With the business being around for over 100 years it has had to adapt and change,” states Mike Whitney, general manager. “Back in the 1970s to 1980s Kuppermann’s grandfather got the idea to supply homes and not just be a restaurant supply store. We find it a very natural fit,” says Whitney.
“From the days when my great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather operated a store front from their home on Grape Street, Smiths continues to maintain the finest display showroom and best stocked warehouse in Upstate New York. There are approximately 18,000 items in inventory contained within two floors of public showrooms and six floors of warehouse,” Kuppermann states.
“The territory for the store used to be
Smiths has been making significant changes in past couple of months. It started three years ago with the addition of the
Both Kuppermann and Whitney explain, “We are trying to get back to our basics, back to our roots.”
The business is a three part one. First is the retail side of it, second the commercial side, and third the contract side. Several different government-run venues will put out a bid for services. These venues include public schools.
The Dining Alliance has recently named Smiths as a preferred vendor.
“We work a little with chains, but not very much. We’ve always dealt with the independent companies. We fell that the successful operators are family businesses,” Kuppermann states.
Having the government contracts translates to a strong buying position. It makes Smiths very commodity driven which is great for the consumer. Now the customer can buy in store and get the benefits of a volume buy.
Smiths has recently started doing bridal registries. The benefit to this is that Smiths carries the commercial equipment that some home owners want for their own. “We’re like Bed,
They ship everyday and will make local deliveries. There is no minimum order for free delivery in the area.
“Even with our 18,000 item inventory, we still have to do special orders,” claims Kuppermann. “But we’ll get it, there is very little we don’t do.”
Smiths also roasts its own coffee. They buy green beans of the Arabica type. These beans are grown in high places, mostly on the sides of mountains, and are hand picked. The beans are mostly fair trade and organic.
“The coffee was my father’s brain child,” states Kuppermann.
Smiths has been roasting coffee for 25 years and was the first in the community to do so. They are the first independent roaster in the area. “My father was way ahead of the community in his thinking,” says Kuppermann.
Kuppermann explains that the coffee is never more than 36 hours old. After that, it just goes stale. He recommends that the customer never buy more than what they will go through in two weeks.
There are several varieties of coffee available as well as some blends. “We even do some private blends for the commercial side,” states Kuppermann.
“And take it black,” Kuppermann brags. “We want you to taste the flavor of the coffee, not the additives.”
Smith Housewares is available online at www.smithrestaurantsupply.com and most of the promotions they offer can be found on their Facebook page. The store is open Monday thru Friday 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday 10 am to 1 pm.
By Alisha Tondro, for Table Hopping – with Central New York Nightlife!
Published in September 2010 in Syracuse , NY
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