About Us

 

From its modest beginning as a small store on Penn Avenue in Northeastern Pennsylvania, to its present status as a multi-facility corporation, the story of Schiff's is the story of the American dream. To this day, Schiff's maintains its mission to grow and serve its customers with top-quality, first-class service and low prices day in and day out. Founded by Morris Schiff in 1945, Schiff’s operated for about 24 years servicing wholesale food and meat products to local hotels and restaurants before before government regulations made the meat business harder. In 1969, amidst new federal regulations in the industry, Morris informed his four employees it was time to close his business.

Alyn J. Scheatzle, one of Morris Schiff’s four employees and a meat cutter from Duryea, seized this opportunity to make an offer to purchase the store. 

On June 28th, 1969 Alyn Scheatzle bought Morris Schiff’s store and renamed it to Schiff’s Restaurant Service, Inc.

Immediately following his incorporation and leadership, Scheatzle’s newly found company grew substantially. In 1970, Schiff's celebrated its 25th Anniversary by moving Schiff’s original store on Penn Avenue to its present day location in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  Fun Fact: The new facility was originally the Kleinberger Pickle Factory, which was a larger physical plant then they had previously and offered a better location with more space. In 1974 Schiff's opened the first wholesale Cash and Carry, under federal inspection (U.S.D.A). Here the public could shop shoulder to shoulder with the wholesale food customers. Over the next several years new departments are added: a deli and bakery featuring homemade local delights, an in-house smokehouse to process Schiff's famous smoked kielbasi, and a fresh fish and a fresh produce department.  In 1982, Alyn Scheatzle opened a beverage center next door to the Cash & Carry, which allowed customers to purchase their favorite selections in beer, soda, snacks, cigarettes and lottery tickets.Through Scheatzle's direction and leadership, Schiff's became a household name in the Scranton area, as well as the restaurant industry.