Rabinowitz Sells Toco Instant Printing

The Toco Hills community lost a local staple recently as Hal Rabinowitz retired from and sold Toco Instant Printing. The shop, one of the last independent locations of the shrinking quick-print industry, has a 50-year history in the community.

Hal Rabinowitz described the process of transitioning into the business with his father, Ben Rabinowitz, who previously owned a local hotel, the Roadway Inn, recalling how he learned from another man who went into the same business with his son.

“The neighborhood needed a print shop,” said Hal Rabinowitz. “Mostly copies, but we did have some schools and synagogues and churches that ended up with us. Back then, people did a lot more mailing, and stationery, and business forms. That kept us going.”

In 1991, after several years in business at a local shopping center, they bought the free-standing building that housed the shop until this year. Many locals recall visiting the store throughout the years.

Miriam Cann, who did a lot of business with the shop through her lay leadership and executive roles at both Congregation Beth Jacob and Torah Day School of Atlanta, recalls, “He was always helpful and speedy,” Cann said. “Sometimes I had barely sent the email and I got an email back, saying it was done.”

Many community members also remember the shop and the family from Ben Rabinowitz’s role at Congregation Beth Jacob.

“Hal’s dad was larger than life,” said Rabbi Brian Glusman. “He proudly wore his Judaism, but he also treated everyone like a friend.”

Rabbi Glusman, who many may know from the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, also has a deep history with Toco Instant Printing. At one point interested in getting into the quick print business himself, he was offered a position by Ben Rabinowitz – and he wasn’t the only one.

“Three of my immediate family, including me, worked at Toco Printing,” said Rabbi Glusman. “My brother worked there, my mother worked there, and I worked there as well. It was really a family experience.”

“Kinda like the Roadway Inn, it was a hub of activity, of Jewish community,” continued Rabbi Glusman. “Everyone had their printing done at Toco Instant Printing. I was thinking to myself it was the precursor of interfaith outreach networking, because people from every background, every religion, would go to Toco Printing.”

Rabbi Glusman recalled local politicians, like Liane Levetan, as well as several prominent rabbis stopping by several times. Hal Rabinowitz recalled a local actor, Ben Jones (Cooter on “The Dukes of Hazzard”) doing the same. Both recalled older locals coming in to make copies of their social security forms, students coming in to make copies of resumes, and all sorts of businesses, churches, and synagogues sending people for cards and fliers.

Hal Rabinowitz described how it became a lot easier as the technology evolved.

“We just found ways to do things that required a lot of time, to do them almost instantly on a computer now,” said Hal Rabinowitz. “To this day, whenever I use those programs, I think back to how it used to be. It’s kind of fun now. I enjoyed it more than I ever did, up to the end.”

Although, even in the most stressful moments, he remained a consummate professional.

“He was always calm and always reasonable, and going into his store was always pleasant,” recalled Cann. “Every interaction with him was always pleasant. I can’t imagine him ever raising his voice. There was never an ‘I can’t do that.’”

Sometimes I had barely sent the email and I got an email back, saying it was done.

But recently, Hal Rabinowitz decided it was a good time to retire, mentioning getting to spend more time with his grandchildren.

“I’m 71 years old, I’m in very good health, but I wanted more free time,” said Hal Rabinowitz. “It’s the type of business where I didn’t feel comfortable taking a day off in the middle of the week. I was responsible for making sure orders got through, everything went through the proper channels and flowed smoothly.”

He recently sold the company to the chain Minuteman Press, who bought their customer list, but chose not to take any equipment or the physical location, shifting business instead to their branch in Decatur.

“Our goal is to serve them just as Hal was serving them,” said Eric Burril, who owns the local franchise. “It’s beneficial on both of our sides to have a quality relationship as we move on. The print world is a small world. Everyone has their niche customers, and there’s a lot of information that he has being in business for 30 years. At the end of the day, it’s about relationships.”

Still, for those who remember Toco Instant Printing, the relationship they most recall will likely be with Hal.

“He’s just, I would say, the consummate mensch,” said Cann.

“Hal’s dad was a mensch,” said Rabbi Glusman, “and obviously it’s genetic.”