Brink's Market history

The Erie Railroad bought the Pennsylvania Coal Company in 1901, making it a subsidiary of its own mining and railroad operations.

The Alleghany Corporation created the Pittston Company in January 1930.

When Routh took over in 1939, Pittston's stock was down to 12.5 cents per share, and the company owed the Erie Railroad $10 million.

In 1944 he brought Pittston its first bituminous reserves with the purchase of 60 percent of Clinchfield Coal Corporation.

In 1947 Pittston acquired Lillybrook Coal Company to increase its coal reserves.

In 1951 it acquired the Metropolitan Petroleum Corporation, a wholesale and retail oil distributor in New York City.

In 1951 it acquired the Metropolitan Petroleum Corporation, a wholesale and retail oil distributor in New York City. Its share of the fuel-oils business in the northeast rose considerably, and by 1954 fuel oil accounted for 38 percent of Pittston's net income.

Pittston's interest in Brink's began in 1956, when it bought 22 percent of its stock.

In 1960 coal accounted for 36 percent of net income, oil for 31 percent, and transportation and warehousing for 33 percent.

Under the leadership of its chairman, Nicholas T. Camicia, elected in 1969, Pittston spent heavily in its coal division, opening new mines and modernizing its production.

Through these efforts the coal division experienced a resurgence, and by 1971 it was contributing more than 55 percent of the company's net income.

The boys decided to try a new format store in Chisago, so they opened the Food Depot in 1976.

Pittston faced further legal action brought by the state of West Virginia, with whom it settled in 1977 for $4 million.

Also in 1980 Pittston decided to merge its trucking and warehousing operations under one structure.

In 1982 Pittston undertook its first major diversification in 25 years with the acquisition of Burlington Northern Air Freight for $177 million.

In 1986, Roger Jr. and Kevin purchased the store from Roger Sr.. They combined the Chisago Brink’s store and remodeled the Food Depot changing the name to Spree Market.

Despite these efforts Burlington's initial performance was disappointing, posting a $19 million loss in 1987.

By the end of 1988 Pittston appeared to be on the road to recovery.

The strike, marked by hostility on both sides, continued through the end of 1989 and cost Pittston's coal division $27 million that year.

Pittston and the UMW finally reached a settlement on January 1, 1990, with both sides making concessions.

The company further divided its services stock (which held Brink's, Brink's Home Security, and Burlington Air Express) in 1995 by separating the Services Group into two new common stocks--the Pittston Brink's Group and the Pittston Burlington Group.

In 1996 profits were down to $15 million compared with $16 million the year before.

Spree Market was open until 1997 when it was remodeled to the current store, Brink’s Market.