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In 1935, David Radway and Larry Weingarten decided to leave their positions as salespeople with an institutional coffee company in Chicago and start their own coffee business.
They chose Lansing as the spot for their venture because of its fair distance from their previous employer and because of its central location in Michigan. The two men sold their coffee during the day, and, with the help of their wives, packaged what they had sold that night. The orders were delivered on the following day.
From this humble start has sprung the gentle giant of Paramount Coffee Company.
Paramount was first located on Turner Street, then moved to its present home, at 130 North Larch Street, in 1943.
It has always been a family business, and David Radway's son, Ron, began at Paramount as a salesperson in the early 1960s. In 1977, Ron Radway took his father place as president. After Ron's passing in 1991, his wife, Lila, took the position of chairperson.
Lila Radway had always admired the determination, hard work, and philosophy of her father-in-law and husband. She took on her job in order to continue to foster the stability and growth of the company.
And grow it has.
With its allied lines of sugar, nondairy products, jellies, dressings, spices, soft drinks, espresso equipment, brewers, and its coffees in many flavors and sizes, Paramount Coffee Company now offers over 1,000 products and services.
As always, though, coffee is their primary focus. President Marty Schlissberg said, "Paramount delivers to every end-user of coffee. We do everything except grow the beans. We import it, we roast it, and we distribute it to restaurants, hospitals, universities, offices, convenience stores, supermarkets, cafes, and vending...