Encyclopedia Of Detroit
Germack Pistachio Company
A Detroit staple, Germack Pistachio Company started as and remains a family business. In 1912 Armenian immigrants John and Frank Germack arrived in New York. John became an importer in Brooklyn and Manhattan of Turkish, Greek, and Eastern European foods. Along with olives, olive oil, spices, and various nuts, there were pistachios, which were new to many in the United States. Frank soon joined the company, and the brothers began looking for other locations for expansion. Detroit, with its booming immigrant population seemed ideal and the brothers moved there in 1924, opening another wholesale operation to specialize in imported Turkish pistachios and other Middle Eastern foods.
In 1935 the firm took the name Germack Brothers, and moved to a building on Russell Street. The company thrived on the edge of Eastern Market, one of the oldest and largest farmers markets in the country. Their high quality pistachios, roasted in small batches, distinguished the company. They were the first in the U.S. to roast pistachios. John moved back to New York City in 1936 to purchase and operate another pistachio processor, the Zenobia Nut Company, while Frank remained in Detroit, focusing solely on importing and roasting pistachios, Brazil nuts, cashews, and pine nuts.
Frank decided to dye some of the company’s pistachios a bright red color, to improve the aesthetics, attract new consumers, and to cover naturally occurring stains left on the pistachio. The red shelled nuts, named “Red Lip” pistachios, soon became a signature product. During the Great Depression Germack sold the red pistachios in penny vending machines, helping the unemployed obtain an inexpensive source of food.
By the 1960s the company was selling to a national market, importing 20,000 tons of pistachios annually. Eventually, Frank Germack Jr. began directing operations at Germack Pistachio Company and the firm branched out and expanded production, becoming international. Besides creating some of the finest gourmet nuts available, the staff began drying and selling squash seeds, pumpkin seeds and various fruits. In 2012 the company added coffee roasting to their repertoire.
Today red pistachios and the other exotic nuts that Frank Germack helped introduce to the Detroit area are still being produced and sold. The Germack family continues to prepare nuts the “old fashioned” way – in small batches and according to the roasting methods perfected decades ago by Frank Sr. Though not in their original location, Germack is still based in Eastern Market, for their retail operation, while the roasting is done at another location in the city. Germack products can be found anywhere from Detroit sporting events to locations across the country.
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