Our Story
The Kraisinger's Market Story
Founded more than 80 years ago by James Kraisinger, the family business is now in its third generation. James Kraisinger (an immigrant from what is now known as the Czech Republic), was inspired to start his own business. Arriving in the United States in 1907, at age seven, James had a vision to start his own business. In 1937, he traded food for $500 wort
h of lumber, and built a local landmark, on Quarry Street in Mount Pleasant Borough, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The store still operates today under the original name of Kraisinger’s Market. In addition to building and operating the store, James also developed recipes for smoked kolbasy, sausage, and garlic bacon. All of which are still made, using his recipes and smoked in the smokehouse that he built years ago. As time passed, the product line expanded into fresh sausages and a variety of other smoked products. A New Generation of Kraisingers
In 1937, the same year the market was built, James Kraisinger and his wife Katherine, welcomed their son Regis. Kraisinger was drawn into the family business at an early age. At the age of four, he would stand on a milk crate, and trim out bones that his father would give him at the family butcher shop. Eighty years later, Regis Kraisinger is still operating the market, and has cut his fair share of tasty steaks over the years for the faithful local cliental. James Kraisinger turned over the market to his two sons, William and Regis, in 1955. In the 1960’s, Regis and his wife Jody, became the sole proprietors. With the changing economy, Regis looked for ways to keep the market profitable. In the early 1980’s, Regis and Jody, entered into the wholesale fund-raising business. Hoagies are still made today for groups and organizations that resell them as fund-raisers. These tasty sandwiches, made from the freshest lunchmeats and produce, have been a local favorite for the past thirty years. As the business environment continued to change, the Kraisinger’s evolved and adapted their business strategy. The ‘mom and pop’ business was forced to reconsider the role of some groceries as more competition surrounded them. What has become the last surviving ‘mom and pop’ store in Mount Pleasant, and there were dozens of them in the 1930’s and 1940’s, is a testimony to the hard work and adaptation that has taken place. In the late 1980’s, Regis made the tough decision to eliminate some grocery items and began to offer both cold and hot deli items. The retail sale of these deli items were so successful, that customers began ordering items in bulk, and thus the catering operation, Kings Pointe, was developed. From modest beginnings in 1937, the Kraisinger family business has come a long way. James Kraisinger would certainly be proud!
