After 90 Years On Lower East Side, Streit's Matzos Moving To New Jersey
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's the end of an era for a matzo making business in New York that's now headed to a neighboring state in order to continue production.
As CBS2's Meg Baker reported, Streit's Matzos on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side was started by Aron Streit 90 years ago.
"He opened up the modern machine bakery here with his eldest son in 1925," said co-owner Alan Adler.
After 90 Years On Lower East Side, Streit's Matzos Moving To New Jersey
Adler's great-grandfather said customers used to form lines down the block to get their matzo.
But soon, that will be no more.
Operations at the factory are set to end come summertime, but you can always find Streit's matzo at your local supermarket, Baker reported.
"There's just many logistical difficulties that we just can't fight with anymore on the Lower East Side," Adler said.
As the business changed to wholesale, large delivery trucks found trouble in turning down narrow city streets.
Streit's also ran out of space for new equipment.
"While everything else is getting smaller -- computers and everything else -- matzoh making equipment is just getting bigger," Adler said.
The original machinery is still used for production.
"This machinery probably dates back to the 30's, early 40's," Adler said. "The oven has been the big problem."
The factory employs more than 50 people along the assembly line.
Adler said they're too upset to talk about the move, Baker reported.
"Employees go back here 30 years, 20 years -- family members, fathers and sons, cousins, uncles, nephews -- very sad for all of us," Adler said.
But it was a decision he said they had to make.
"Economically, just can't run an operation like this in Manhattan out of four converted tenement buildings in the 21st Century," Adler said.
Production will continue in Manhattan through the Jewish holidays this spring, then move permanently to Streit's current satellite factory in Moonachie, New Jersey.
Another co-owner, Aaron Gross, told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell the decision was gut wrenching, but the satellite factory is better logistically.
"There is some more modern packaging equipment. To be on one story, on one floor, to have a distribution center along side the manufacturing," he said.
The new property owners have yet to determine what the building will be used for.
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