A one-time downtown Scranton firehouse and long-time home of an engraving facility has been sold, and its fate is uncertain.
Scranton Engraving, 233 Franklin Ave., was sold last week for $138,500 to Bill Rosado, owner of the Rosado Group and the Ford Dealership that flanks building.
The seller was Scranton Engraving owner Thomas G. McCormack, 82, who continued to run the business until a just few weeks ago.
Mr. McCormack purchased the business from Times-Shamrock Communications (which publishes BusinessWeekly) almost three decades ago. Scranton Engraving had been a wholly owned subsidiary whose largest customer was The Scranton Times, although the business did outside commercial jobs as well.
Because of technological upgrades, The Scranton Times production moved from hot-type to cold-type printing. Engraving was no longer needed, and the company sold the business to Mr. McCormack in June 1979.
With its handful of clients and six employees, the company moved to Franklin Avenue and continued to produce half tones, line negatives and other prepress services.
He was able to expanded the business. But the digital age soon caught up with company, as more printed material moved from a computer directly to a printer or offset plate. Prepress services became more obsolete.
In more recent years, Mr. McCormack kept the company going thanks plaque etching and boutique work. Shrinking volume and taxes took too great a toll.
“Business was good for a long time. We expanded, got more work and changed with what was happening, but we never got into computers,” Mr. McCormack said. “We did a good job, and we had loyal clients. But this sort of work isn’t needed as much, and we didn’t have the volume to continue.”
The property was listed by John Cognetti and Harry Rothstein, of Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate, in Scranton. The building was initially listed at $190,000, Mr. Cognetti said, but its marketability was limited by its “as-is” status, equipment included in the sale and limited parking.
Mr. Cognetti said Mr. Rosado wasn’t sure if he had a use for the building or would demolish it.
Property facts
Location: 233 Franklin Ave., Scranton.
Sale price: $138,500.
Land: 3,600 square feet.
Building: 4,900 square feet.
Old use: Home of Scranton Engraving.
New use: To be used or demolished by the surrounding car dealership.
– Courtesy of The Times-Tribune Business Weekly
