Republic Linen Service was founded in 1932 as an owner-employee company,
purchased on credit with one truck and some towels we laundered through a
local laundry service. Sam Snookal, our founder, operated this way until 1946
when he acquired a much needed laundry company, American Steam Laundry
Corporation, who had been doing business
successfully and reputably since 1900.
The
company grew through acquisition and sales under Mr. Snookal’s guidance until
1979 when his son-in-law, Mitch Shames, and his grandson, Brad Shames,
purchased his stock in the corporation. At the time of the take over,
American Steam Laundry was composed of two divisions. They were: Republic
Linen Service and Medico Professional Linen Service.
Brad
Shames assumed the presidency of American Textile Maintenance Company in
1993. The company has flourished under his guidance and has grown to over 575
employees.
The
company, presently doing business in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles,
Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, consists of the
following divisions:
Republic Master Chefs
Textile Rental Services
With a customer base of
restaurants, snack bars, hotels, motels and food processing companies, our two
Southern California plants are among the largest facilities producing general
linen services in the Western United States.
Medico Professional Linen
Service is a uniform and linen service specializing in private practice and
medical clinic businesses in the Southern California area. This operation is
the largest linen and uniform service specializing in this niche in the United
States and is now being mirrored by our industry peers in other regions of the
country.
Republic Uniform Sales
A wholesale and retail
seller of uniform and textiles to institutional, commercial and resort
customers. It also functions as the purchasing arm for Republic Master Chefs
and Medico Professional Linen Service.