Globe Equipment Company celebrates 78 years of success with new showroom and warehouse with a Grand
From the back of a station wagon in 1938, one of Bridgeport’s most iconic companies was born.
The story of Globe Equipment Company began when enterprising brothers David and Sidney Ringelheim teamed up to get things rolling. David would spend all week taking equipment orders from local bars and restaurants and on Friday the pair drove to the Bowery to fill the orders.
“My grandfather would literally stop at each bar in restaurant in Bridgeport to take orders and in those days there were a lot of small bars in Bridgeport,” said Brian Ringelheim, Globe’s Vice President. “He was very enterprising. My grandfather would sell things like decks of cards and dice so the bar’s customers could play some games while they were drinking.”
Brian Ringelheim is the Vice President of Globe Equipment and the third generation of Ringelheims to run the company. His father Jay is the President of Globe.
The station wagon days are way back in the rear view mirror now as Globe has completed
construction of its 10,000 square foot retail showroom and also completed its new 40,000 square foot warehouse space. The facility is located at 300 Dewey Street in the West End section of Bridgeport.
The company is celebrating its new showroom with its biggest event ever: The Grand Re-Opening! The event will be held from Thursday June 23rd through Saturday June 25th. On Thursday and Friday the hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I timed the event for these days, because my father is receiving a major award fro AJC (Global Jewish Advocacy) in New York City Wednesday night,” explained Brian. “A lot of the suppliers we do business with from around the country will be here for that dinner, so they will stick around to take a look at the new showroom and warehouse.”
The company is pulling out all the stops for this weekend’s event bringing together restaurateurs, chefs, food service operators, and homemakers who cook, as well as the general public. The event showroom will be packed with restaurant professionals, manufacturers, local companies and local chefs all demonstrating their wares and their top of the line equipment.
“If you are interested in the latest restaurant equipment or gadgets, I would say definitely stop by,” said Brian. “There will be product seminars and marketing seminars as well as many demonstrations. There is just going to be all sorts of things going on.”
Globe is trying to involve local business in the celebration. Brian noted that the company’s guests are staying at the Holiday Inn and Globe will host a dinner at Ralph and Rich’s, both downtown Bridgeport institutions.
Among the features at the festivities will be a ribbon cutting Thursday at 10 a.m. with Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and all weekend long there will be cooking and bartending demonstrations, equipment demonstrations, current trend presentations, food and beverage sampling, raffles and giveaways, food trucks and much more. Radio station WEBE 108 will also be on hand for a live broadcast.
When asked to explain Globe Equipment Company’s success Brian replied, “We stress quality, customer service and the health and safety of our customers. We want to make sure they know how to use the products we sell safely.”
The Company’s motto is, “Everything you need to make serve and store food. The emphasis being on “everything.”
Brian also offered this advice for attendees: “Come hungry!”
We shall.
