John M. Picken

JOHN M. PICKEN, Refreshment Contractor, 375, 377, 379, Paisley Road, Glasgow.

    In estimating the commercial importance of a great centre like Glasgow, we are greatly impressed with the innumerable business undertakings whose magnitude is evidenced by their appearance of substantial stability, and in this connection it becomes our pleasant duty to direct the attention of our readers to the noteworthy establishment conducted by Mr. Picken, refreshment contractor, 375, 377, and 379, Paisley Road.

    The above-named gentleman commenced business operations ten years ago at the present address, acquiring for this purpose the handsome block of buildings which forms an attractive feature in this popular thoroughfare. The premises are centrally situated near the Shields Road, and have an extensive frontage, comprising five splendid plate-glass windows and two large doorways.

    The interior is very elegantly appointed, and is conveniently arranged in three divisions, the bakery occupying one side and the dining saloons and confectionery department the others. Dealing with them in this order, we find the first-named stocked with all kinds of plain, fancy, and dietetic bread, cakes, &c., of the highest quality, produced by special modern and improved appliances, ensuring the utmost purity and cleanliness in the various processes of preparation. The dining saloons are spacious and comfortably furnished apartments, and are daily patronised by hundreds of visitors for dinners, teas, &c., which are deftly served by neat and civil attendants. The confectionery department is notable for a display of high-class goods of this description, many of which may be classed as artistic examples of the confectioner’s art. The bakery is situated in the basement, and, as we have already observed, is constructed on modern scientific principles, and is of sufficient capacity for the production of enormous quantities of bread, cakes, &c., and is also provided with first-class cooking apparatus.

    An important and special feature of the business is the catering and contracting for the supply of refreshments, plant, linen, plate, glass, napery, &c., for ball suppers, wedding breakfasts, dance and soiree parties, trial trips of ships and steamers, and camp messes. This department is admirably organised, Mr. Picken, from his long experience, being fully capable of undertaking contracts of any magnitude, and in connection with catering for regimental necessities, it is nothing unusual for this gentleman to provide for as many as 1,000 people at a time. This certainly requires a great amount of patience, skill, and resource, qualities which are evidently abundant in Mr. Picken’s case, enabling him to satisfy the requirements of a multitude on the shortest notice.

    Before leaving this branch of the business, we may mention that at the time our representative visited the establishment he was permitted, in a brief view behind the scenes, to witness the operation of converting half-a-dozen large hams into sandwiches, this being accomplished with great celerity by about the same number of stalwart assistants, who, with keen, glittering blades, rapidly reduced the meat to the necessary proportions for providing in sandwich form the delicacies soon to be demolished by a school feast in the vicinity. Wedding Cakes are quite a speciality of Mr. Picken’s business.

    The services of a large number of sale assistants, waitresses, pastry cooks, bakers, &c., are employed in the business in supplying the requirements of the wide circle of patrons of the establishment, the whole management being ably conducted by the principal, who is young, energetic, and enterprising — qualities which cannot fail to gain for him the success which his great abilities entitle him to command.

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