Salt Lake City, UT

(Associated names American Linen, American Linen Supply Company, ALSCO, Steiner Sales Company, Steiner American Corporation, Lincoln Towel & Apron Supply)

Jobsite

Steiner Corporation, formerly named American Linen, moved from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1895.  In 1910, the company moved into its new plant at 33 East and 6th South and remained at this location at least until the late 1980s.  Beginning as a small, towel delivery service, it evolved and grew over the years into a large, international company that designs and manufactures uniforms and provides linen supply services for a wide variety of businesses.  

Address or general location

Location until some time after 1989:  33 East 6th South, Salt Lake City, Utah

Currently:  3370 West 1820 South, Salt Lake City, Utah

(There were other locations in Salt Lake City, Ogden and St. George)

Detail

Started by a 15-year-old in the late 1800s in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Steiner Corporation began as a small, one-person business and eventually evolved into a large, international company.  In the late 1800s, due to the poor economy in Lincoln, Nebraska, at that time, Steiner moved the business to Salt Lake City where it remains.  

Unlike today, where paper towels and clean linens are easily accessible, in the 1800s, it was customary for people to reuse a towel which had been wrung out and dried after its last use.  Having fresh linens was a luxury that few had.  Responding to the need for clean towels and laundry, George Steiner created his company in order to provide a towel and laundry delivery service.  Later, in the early 1900s, Steiner patented a towel-dispensing cabinet which addressed the unsanitary conditions posed by the public roller towel.  In 1922, the Steiner Sales Company was founded in Salt Lake City to manage the production and sales of these cabinets which eventually were used throughout the country for decades.  

In addition to producing and selling the cabinets in the Salt Lake City branch, the plant which had been located for decades at 33 East and 6th South processed as much as 40,000 pounds of linen a day into the 1980s.  From the beginning and continuing today, the Steiner Corporation has grown, diversified and has constructed branches around the world.  Likewise, the corporation has changed names frequently and is currently named Alsco (short for American Linen Supply Company).  In addition to the plant location on 33 East and 6th South, the company also had other locations in the Salt Lake City area, including the Steiner American Building which was constructed in the 1960s and is located at 505 East South Temple.