Celebrating 90 Years of Excellence: A Journey Through Time with Swartz Kitchens & Baths
This year, Swartz Kitchens & Baths celebrates our 90th anniversary! A family-owned and operated business for nine decades, it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve homeowners, contractors, and industry professionals throughout Pennsylvania. We are humbled and grateful for the trust and support you have shown us over the years. To commemorate this milestone, let’s take a journey back in time to explore what life was like 90 years ago, when Swartz was just beginning its remarkable story.
Looking Back 90 Years Ago: The 1930s, A Time of Change: In those days, a loaf of bread cost around 19 cents, a gallon of milk cost approximately 56 cents, and a gallon of gas was around 10 cents. A typical month’s rent was $18, a new car cost around $860, and the average cost of a new house was just $3900. Inventions such as sliced bread, frozen food, the jet engine, nylon, and the ballpoint pen revolutionized daily life. Jazz and swing were the dominant genres of music during this time, with artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller gaining widespread popularity. The Great Depression was in full swing, causing widespread economic hardship across the United States, and leading to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Prohibition was repealed and Hollywood was in its Golden Age.
Reflecting on 90 Years of Change: From Coal-Hauling to Kitchen & Bath Remodeling: It’s remarkable to see how Swartz Supply evolved over the years to become Swartz Kitchens & Baths. Kenneth and Margaret Swartz founded Swartz Supply in 1934. The company started as a coal-hauling business, but later provided plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning supplies. In the 1960’s, their son, Bob Swartz shifted the company’s focus to kitchen cabinetry and other kitchen and bath remodeling products. Third generation and current owner Scott Swartz says: “I remember my mother, Shirley Swartz, hauling cabinets in her own car to a client’s house on a Friday evening because ‘they really needed them’ for a job.” Scott, who today is an active, on-site owner, worked in his family’s business from “the ground up” — his first job was in the warehouse. After graduating from college in 1989, he joined the family business full-time. As he matured in business, Scott established strong relationships with long-time talented employees as well as great builders and contractors in central PA. Through the dedication and vision of each generation, the Swartz family has adapted to changing times while upholding its commitment to service and quality.
The Power of Five: A hands-on approach, a strong work ethic, and an unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction contributed to the Swartz family’s success. For 90 years, five core values have been central to the company’s business practices: customer service, commitment, teamwork, honesty, and recognition. “Our philosophy”, says Scott, “is 100% customer-centric; everyone at Swartz Kitchen & Baths is expected to honor the company’s core values. The five Swartz family members – Scott Swartz’s grandparents, Scott’s parents, and now, Scott himself -have stressed the importance of staying true to their core values and maintaining strong relationships with customers and industry professionals. From humble beginnings, Swartz Kitchens & Baths has grown to serve five locations across eastern Pennsylvania – Harrisburg, Allentown, Lancaster, York, and Stroudsburg.
Celebrating 90 Years of Excellence: As we celebrate the 90th anniversary of Swartz Kitchens & Baths, we honor the legacy of hard work, dedication, and exceptional service that has defined the company for nearly a century. We are grateful to our employees – past and present – who have been instrumental in setting the standard for excellence in kitchen and bath remodeling.
And we thank YOU, our friends and customers, for being the most important part of our story.
Together, we embark on the next decade of our journey, adhering to the same principles that have guided us since the beginning — a commitment to our customers, our community, and the values that define us as a family-owned business. Here’s to 90 years of success and many more to come!
Celebrating 90 Years of Excellence: A Journey Through Time with Swartz Kitchens & Baths
This year, Swartz Kitchens & Baths celebrates our 90th anniversary! A family-owned and operated business for nine decades, it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve homeowners, contractors, and industry professionals throughout Pennsylvania. We are humbled and grateful for the trust and support you have shown us over the years. To commemorate this milestone, let’s take a journey back in time to explore what life was like 90 years ago, when Swartz was just beginning its remarkable story.
Looking Back 90 Years Ago: The 1930s, A Time of Change: In those days, a loaf of bread cost around 19 cents, a gallon of milk cost approximately 56 cents, and a gallon of gas was around 10 cents. A typical month’s rent was $18, a new car cost around $860, and the average cost of a new house was just $3900. Inventions such as sliced bread, frozen food, the jet engine, nylon, and the ballpoint pen revolutionized daily life. Jazz and swing were the dominant genres of music during this time, with artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller gaining widespread popularity. The Great Depression was in full swing, causing widespread economic hardship across the United States, and leading to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Prohibition was repealed and Hollywood was in its Golden Age.
Reflecting on 90 Years of Change: From Coal-Hauling to Kitchen & Bath Remodeling: It’s remarkable to see how Swartz Supply evolved over the years to become Swartz Kitchens & Baths. Kenneth and Margaret Swartz founded Swartz Supply in 1934. The company started as a coal-hauling business, but later provided plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning supplies. In the 1960’s, their son, Bob Swartz shifted the company’s focus to kitchen cabinetry and other kitchen and bath remodeling products. Third generation and current owner Scott Swartz says: “I remember my mother, Shirley Swartz, hauling cabinets in her own car to a client’s house on a Friday evening because ‘they really needed them’ for a job.” Scott, who today is an active, on-site owner, worked in his family’s business from “the ground up” — his first job was in the warehouse. After graduating from college in 1989, he joined the family business full-time. As he matured in business, Scott established strong relationships with long-time talented employees as well as great builders and contractors in central PA. Through the dedication and vision of each generation, the Swartz family has adapted to changing times while upholding its commitment to service and quality.
The Power of Five: A hands-on approach, a strong work ethic, and an unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction contributed to the Swartz family’s success. For 90 years, five core values have been central to the company’s business practices: customer service, commitment, teamwork, honesty, and recognition. “Our philosophy”, says Scott, “is 100% customer-centric; everyone at Swartz Kitchen & Baths is expected to honor the company’s core values. The five Swartz family members – Scott Swartz’s grandparents, Scott’s parents, and now, Scott himself -have stressed the importance of staying true to their core values and maintaining strong relationships with customers and industry professionals. From humble beginnings, Swartz Kitchens & Baths has grown to serve five locations across eastern Pennsylvania – Harrisburg, Allentown, Lancaster, York, and Stroudsburg.
Celebrating 90 Years of Excellence: As we celebrate the 90th anniversary of Swartz Kitchens & Baths, we honor the legacy of hard work, dedication, and exceptional service that has defined the company for nearly a century. We are grateful to our employees – past and present – who have been instrumental in setting the standard for excellence in kitchen and bath remodeling.
And we thank YOU, our friends and customers, for being the most important part of our story.
Together, we embark on the next decade of our journey, adhering to the same principles that have guided us since the beginning — a commitment to our customers, our community, and the values that define us as a family-owned business. Here’s to 90 years of success and many more to come!