Elliott-Lewis is almost as much of a Philadelphia institution as cheesesteaks and soft pretzels.

The energy company was founded in the city in 1905 and is going stronger than ever nearly a century later.

Last week, the company celebrated the official grand opening of its new location in the Byberry East Industrial Park.

"When we decided to build at this location, we didn't think about any other area outside the city limits," said president and CEO Bill Sautter.

Sautter, a Mayfair native, guided the company through its move from 2701 Grant Ave. The old headquarters consisted of 20,000 square feet. The company's new digs encompass 70,000 square feet. In all, the move cost $5 million.

Though Elliott-Lewis was staying in Philadelphia no matter what, a relatively new state program made the move even sweeter.

Sautter and senior vice president Ralph Kelly looked at countless abandoned buildings, but none met the company's needs.

An empty 10-acre tract on Black Lake Place, near McNulty Road, fit the bill perfectly.

BE KOZ, BE KOZ, BE KOZ

The land was part of a Keystone Opportunity Zone. Companies moving into these KOZs receive exemptions from a variety of local and state taxes through Dec. 31, 2010.

"The fact that we could do a KOZ in Philadelphia, very close to where our employees live, made it a much easier decision," Sautter said. "This was a real simple move for us."

In return for the tax exemptions, Elliott-Lewis is required to increase its work force by 20 percent over the next five years. At present, there are 320 employees.

Thus, the company is bound to hire at least 64 folks by 2005. Company officials say the actual number of new hires will probably be around 100.

There are obvious signs that Elliott-Lewis will expand. There is plenty of land surrounding the facility on which to build. Inside, empty desks and offices will soon be filled with employees.

Elliott-Lewis sold its Grant Avenue building, home since 1964, and moved to its new site on May 1. Sautter freely acknowledges that the company stayed on Grant Avenue too long, expanding a couple times when a bigger move was necessary.

Last week, Mayor John Street visited the new facility to officially cut the ribbon.

He's delighted that Elliott-Lewis will be increasing its work force and happy that the company was not swayed by lucrative economic-development packages from outside the city.

"People are always trying to steal our businesses," said Street, who earlier in the day attended the demolition of the former Schmidt's Brewery, which was taken down to make room for new businesses.

THERE'S THAT VAN AGAIN

The motto at Elliott-Lewis is "Response You Can Depend On." Most people probably have seen the company's 200 or so red vans on the streets of the Delaware Valley.

Elliott-Lewis, founded by Frank Elliott and Thomas Lewis, began as a small electrical business and has grown into a full-service facilities management company.

In 1935, Elliott-Lewis installed the first commercial air conditioner in the Philadelphia area.

Elliott-Lewis still installs and maintains air-conditioning systems but has grown to keep up with modern needs.

Today, the company handles all aspects of the design, engineering, installation and maintenance for cooling, heating, refrigeration, plumbing and automatic temperature control systems.

Elliott-Lewis boasts a strong local customer base.

"As the city goes, our business goes," Sautter said.

The growth has been dramatic in the last half-dozen years. Elliott-Lewis, a $20 million company as recently as 1994, now generates more than $100 million a year.

Customers demand efficient mechanical systems in their buildings. Thus, Elliott-Lewis is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Staying close to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 95 was important to company officials, who wanted no disruption in employees' daily commute.

"The key to our business is our employees and their retention. We have very little turnover," said Sautter, a 25-year company veteran.

LESSONS FROM THE VETERANS

There's no mandatory retirement at Elliott-Lewis. In Sautter's view, young workers can benefit from the training they receive from company veterans.

Elliott-Lewis is the kind of company in which employees arrive as apprentices and wind up retiring from there.

Kelly, the senior vice president, falls into that category. He's been with Elliott-Lewis for 50 years, starting in the service department.

"It's like the old days when you got your first job," he said of working for the company. "Once you get here, you find that the people are a tremendous asset to the company. To walk into a friendly atmosphere every morning is a big thing for people."

City Controller Jonathan Saidel, City Managing Director Joe Martz and Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce President Al Taubenberger were on hand for the grand-opening ceremony.

Martz, after working for Marty Weinberg's losing mayoral campaign, served as vice president of marketing at Elliott-Lewis from June 1999 until Street hired him in January.

Saidel called KOZs "fantastic" and an integral part of the city's economic development. He wants to expand the program.

"I don't see why the whole city can't be a KOZ," he said.

Taubenberger backs the opportunity zones because he thinks they help Philadelphia attract and maintain businesses.

"The city needs additional advantages, and the KOZ is helpful," he said.

Sautter won't argue. While his company benefits from tax breaks, Philadelphia will benefit by keeping 400 or so employees in the city

Looking ahead, Sautter sees a bright future for Elliott-Lewis and a long relationship with the city.

"You're only as good as your people," he said, "and we have very good people."