Metroplitan Vacuum

  Picture this... It's the mid 1930's and America is in the grips of the Great Depression. You've recently arrived from Poland and are struggling with a new language. There are no jobs. To support yourself, you offer to sell a new, modern convenience, the electric vacuum cleaner, in neighborhoods that have yet to be wired with electricity! Your name is Israel Stern and, while you don't know it, you're about to create a family dynasty.

    Not only does young Israel survive, he thrives on the challenge and delves into vacuum cleaners with a passion, learning how they are made and how to repair them. By 1939, he had saved enough to open a small retail store in the Bronx. He sold new vacuum cleaners, did repairs, reconditioned and sold trade-ins. When World War II broke out, manufacturers ceased making new vacuum cleaners. To survive, Israel shifted to reconditioning cleaners and selling attachments. Soon, peddlers were coming to the small Bronx store asking to sell his reconditioned vacuums and a new wholesale business began.

    In 1951, Israel's son, Jules, joined the company full time. From 1951 through 1956, the company focused on reconditioning Electrolux vacuum cleaners. They would buy trade-ins from Electrolux, rebuild them to like-new condition and sell them to appliance, discount and 5 and Dime stores.

In 1974, Kenneth Stern, the eldest son of Jules, joined Metro adding a third generation of Sterns to the family business. In the mid-70's, the Sterns were made aware of a vacuum cleaner company that was going out of business. The founder had died and the children did not want to continue the family business. This company manufactured a  larger and more powerful vacuum cleaner. The Sterns purchased the tools and dies of this company and this was the birth of the Metro Vac N'Blo and the Air Force Blaster.
	In 1984, David Stern, youngest son of Jules, joined Metro. Under the keen eye of Jules, President, Kenneth, Vice-President of sales, and David, Vice-President of Marketing, Metro has entered many new and different markets.     Metro is now a major factor in the computer/office product industry with the Data-Vac Computer Cleaning System. Reducing downtime, the Data-Vac cleans and maintains computers, printers, laser printers and copiers. The Magic Air Division markets high volume pumps and
Jules Stern, President (left) and David Stern, Vice-President of Marketing (right) with portrait of Israel Stern, founder.
inflator/deflators to the marine, camping and sporting goods industries and the Pet Grooming Dryer Division manufacturers the top pet grooming dryers in the industry.      Metro entered the motorcycle industry in 2002 with the introduction of the Air Force Blaster Motorcycle Dryer. Designed for drying motorcycles and hot-rods, the Air Force Blaster is the hottest and fastest selling product in the company's 64 years of business.     Today Metro employs 50 very dedicated and long time employees. The Air Force Blaster, a new, less expensive dryer called the Commander and the Vac N'Blo share one common tie with the very first vacuums made by Metro in 1957...they are all proudly "Made in America!"