Random Companies That Have Been Around For Centuries That Are Still Open Today (14 items)

• 

  (#1) Kongo Gumi Construction Company Operated For More Than 1,400 Years

  The beautiful ancient architecture of Japan has lasted for centuries. Kongo Gumi Construction Company of Osaka is partially to thank for that. The corporation has left its name on cities and temples throughout Japan, and was the oldest construction company in the world. 

  The company was founded around 578 by Shigemitsu Kongo. He had moved to Osaka from the Korean peninsula after being commissioned by the Japanese Imperial family to build a temple. Buddhism was taking hold in Japan, and the demand for shrines and temples was growing. That presented a great opportunity for Shigemitsu, who had already made a name for himself in Korea as a temple builder. 

  Kongo Gumi Construction Company continued to operate as a business for an astounding 1,428 years, through centuries of turmoil, the Meiji Restoration period, two World Wars, and a recession. Then, 2006 arrived, and the company floundered with debt. Eventually, the ancient construction company merged with Takamatsu.
• 

  (#2) The Nishiyama Hot Spring Hotel Is The Oldest Hotel In The World

  Since 705, the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan Hot Spring Hotel has hosted guests at its location near Mount Fuji. It was first opened by Fujiwara Mahito, whose father was in the court of Emperor Tenji Tenno. The hotel frequently hosted members of the royal family and powerful samurai.

  The hotel's success is rooted in its traditionalism. While the building is frequently renovated, it doesn't offer Internet access, and the decor is kept simple. Instead, guests are invited to focus on the hot springs and relax.

  According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Nishiyama is the oldest hotel still operating and remains the only business of its age to continually be owned by the same family.
• 

  (#3) St. Peter Stiftskeller Restaurant Has Served Patrons Since 803

  Dining at the St. Peter Stiftskeller restaurant is an experience steeped in history - the Austrian restaurant and beer cellar has served patrons since 803. For some perspective, consider this: Emperor Charlemagne I was 60 years old when the restaurant first opened its doors. 

  The establishment was first mentioned by Alcuin, who was a royal assistant and scholar to Charlemagne. The restaurant has seen its fair share of history over the decades; the building hosted the composer Michael Haydn, housed troops during the Napoleonic Wars, and was looted during World War I.

  Today, St. Peter Stiftskeller is still recommended as a stop for any tourist hungry for a good meal and a touch of local lore.
• 

  (#4) The Bingley Arms Pub Predates The Crusades

  According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Bingley Arms enjoys the distinction of being the oldest pub in Britain. It was established in 953, before England was a unified kingdom, and 142 years before the First Crusade.

  The building was originally known as the Priests Inn, since it once served as a convenient stopping place for traveling priests. The pub also served as a hideout for Catholics when Henry VIII began dissolving monasteries. In 1780, the pub was renamed in honor of its then-owner, Lord Bingley.

  Today, visitors can still stop by the Bingley Arms for a hot meal, a cold brew, and perhaps a glimpse of one of the several ghosts said to haunt the building.
• 

  (#5) The Marinelli Foundry's Bells Are Still Ringing After A Millennium

  The family-owned Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli bell foundry in Agnone, Italy has been producing bells since around 1000. Its bells were used in churches and towers around the world, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In 1924, the Marinelli Foundry was given the right to use the Papal coat of arms on their bells by Pope Pius XI. The company fell on hard times during WWII; the foundry was occupied by German soldiers, who melted down bells for their weapons.

  From the mid-20th century onwards, the Marinelli Foundry has enjoyed a long and prosperous career as one of the most prestigious companies in Italy. It continues producing bells of all kinds the same way it has done for a thousand years.
• 

  (#6) Weihenstephan Brewery Has Been Brewing Beer Since The 11th Century

  In the early years of the Catholic Church, monks and priests couldn't hold paying jobs due to their lives of devotion. But they needed to earn money somehow, so many turned to brewing beer. One of those monasteries-turned breweries is Weihenstephan Brewery. 

  Around the year 725, Saint Corbinian established the Benedictine monastery in what is now Freising, a town in Bavaria. The monastery began growing hops, though its brewery wasn't officially established until 1040. The brewery continued as part of Weihenstephan Monastery until the early 19th century when it was taken over by the state of Bavaria.

  Since then it has continued brewing one of the oldest and most well-known brands of German beer.
• 

  (#7) The Monk's Mill Still Grinds Flour After Centuries

  Munke MØlle stands in Denmark. The grain mill used flowing water for power, and was built by Christian monks in the 1175 - hence its name, "Monk's Mill." Over the centuries, the mill was expanded and came under different ownership. In the early 20th century it was partially destroyed by fire and was rebuilt. But, electricity was becoming king, and the mill’s existence was threatened.

  Luckily, in 1962, the Mette Munk Bakery took over the building. Thanks to the bakery and the demand for the Danish pastry overseas, the mill continued to grind flour. At the turn of the 20th century, the mill came under new ownership again, but it still operates at its original site.
• 

  (#8) Barovier & Toso Glassmakers Draw On Hundreds Of Years Of Craftsmanship

  For centuries, glassmaking has flourished on the Italian islands of Murano. Barovier & Toso has been a part of that tradition since at least the 13th century. Barovier, as it was then known, rose to prominence in 1450 when a craftsman named Angelo created the Barovier Wedding Cup. The goblet, which depicts a scene of a wedding party on horseback, is a valuable Renaissance artifact, and is housed in the Murano Museum. 

  The company survived the turmoil of the 1848 Revolutions, the unification of Italy, and both World Wars. In 1939, Barovier merged with another well-known glass blowing company, Toso. Today, Barovier & Toso continues to manufacture glass on Murano as it always has.
• 

  (#9) Sankogan Pharmacy Treated Emperors In The 1300s

  In the mid-14th century, Emperor Shibiengan was reportedly given a concoction called sankogan. The recipe of the herbal elixir was kept as a close secret by its makers, and was used to treat abdominal problems, alcoholism, heartburn, loss of appetite, and nausea. After drinking sankogan, the Emperor proclaimed it an "elixir gifted by the gods of the sky, of the moon, and of the stars."

  Since the 1300s, sankogan was produced and sold by the Komeda family from their farm. Their operation became profitable, and the family named their new pharmaceutical company Sankogan after the original folk treatment.

  During World War Two, Sankogan was almost destroyed. The Imperial Japanese Government took control of production and the head of the company was killed during the conflict. Following the tragedy, the pharmacy was restarted by the next in line in the family, Komeda Tokushichiro Shunsuke, and it was renamed Sankogan Honten Co., Ltd. It continues to sell herbal remedies.
• 

  (#10) Lodenwalker Wool Textiles Makes Clothing Using 15th Century Knowledge

  Lodenwalker sits southeast of Salzburg and has been making clothing since 1434. The manufacturer specializes in a fabric known as loden, made from the wool of mountain sheep. Originally, producing it was a very labor-intensive process. The wool was spun into yarn, which would then be woven into a rough cloth. The cloth was submerged in a bath of warm water and softened with mallets. Once the process was complete, the finished loden became a tough, durable wool fabric that was resistant to water and wind.

  The creation of this wonder fabric remained unchanged until the middle of the 19th century, when Lodenwalker’s process was updated with modern machines to increase capacity. The company still manufacturers fine wool clothing and accessories using time-tested methods.
• 

  (#11) Gallet & Co. Might Be The World's First Clockmakers

  You have Gallet & Company to thank for that wristwatch. In 1466, the clock maker Humbertus Gallet became a citizen of Geneva, laying the groundwork for what would become the longest-running clock and timepiece company ever.

  Gallet and his family made their name as watchmakers and goldsmiths, and their talents were in high demand for the next few centuries. The company even introduced the first wristwatch in 1895, though they didn't catch on until World War I.

  Today, watchmakers continue Humbertus Gallet’s craft of producing high quality clocks, wristwatches, and pocket watches.
• 

  (#12) Gebrüder Weiss Transportation Has Moved People Since 1474

  The town of Fussach sits at the crossroads of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The Wizze (Weiss) family appears in documents in the region as early as 1330, and in 1474 their co-owned Milanese Courier Service began to operate. The service expanded over the next few centuries, and carried some notable passengers, including the writer Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe in 1788. In 1823, Josef Weiss became the sole owner of the courier service and the company took on the name Weiss. 

  Through the 19th and early 20th centuries, Weiss continued to expand. By the 1970s, the company was known as Gebruder Weiss, and began to service more global destinations. The company began adopting Internet technology to ensure accurate tracking, and continues to move people and goods into the 21st century.
• 

  (#13) The Renaissance-Era R.J. Balson & Son Still Butchers Meat

  In 1515, John Balson opened shop at a local market in Bridgeport, Dorset. His meat-selling business, R.J. Balson & Son, proved to be a smashing success. Its handmade sausages and quality meats helped it survive the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the fast-food industry, and the expansion of grocery stores. Today, the shop is the oldest family-operated butcher in Europe.

  Besides selling foods, R.J. Balson & Son focuses on giving back. The company donates a portion of its profits to charities and nonprofit organizations that aim to do good around the globe.
• 

  (#14) Zildjian Cymbals Were A Byproduct Of 17th-Century Alchemy

  Avedis Zildjian lived in Constantinople during the 17th century and practiced alchemy, the study of transforming metals into gold. In a stroke of luck in 1618, he accidentally discovered a unique metal alloy made from tin, silver, and copper. Avedis used this new alloy to make cymbals, and was amazed at the powerful sound that was created as a result. Word of his marvelous new cymbals spread, and the sultan requested that he make more for his elite band. As he perfected his craft, Avedis was given the honorary title of "Zildjian," which means "son of a cymbal maker." 

  For the next four centuries, Avedis’s cymbal making process remained a family secret and the Zildjian business grew. Eventually, the company moved to the United States, and today, Zildjian cymbals remain popular with musicians.

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking