Aviation Coffee Company Fire (1937)

A major fire destroyed a competing San Antonio coffee plant on February 27, 1937. This is sometimes mistakenly associated with Hoffmann-Hayman; it was not their plant.

Details

  • Date: Saturday, February 27, 1937
  • Location: 119 South Medina Street, San Antonio
  • Plant: Aviation Coffee Company
  • Owner: A. A. Walker
  • Damage: $20,000; “considered the structure and contents a complete loss”
  • Response: Two-alarm call; firemen pulled three box cars to safety; wind and light rain hindered efforts
  • Cause: Undetermined

Significance

The Aviation Coffee Company was a San Antonio coffee roaster operating at 119 South Medina Street — near the former Hoffmann-Hayman location on North Medina. Its total destruction in February 1937 removed a local competitor at a moment when Hoffmann-Hayman was actively expanding output at 601 Delaware Street (see the November 1937 expansion articles).

See also