RLS Properties is a family-owned and operated real estate company with deep roots in Amherst and the surrounding Pioneer Valley. The company’s foundation is closely tied to the Shumway family’s long-standing presence in the community. Robert Louis Shumway, son of Vertene Bement Shumway—a respected piano teacher in Amherst—and Earl Fitch Shumway, an Amherst town assessor, grew up on Hallock Street before later moving to East Pleasant Street.

In 1949, Bob opened Shumway’s Dairy Bar, located on the site where Bruegger’s Bagels now operates. The Dairy Bar quickly became a local staple, serving ice cream and hamburgers and providing a gathering place for the community. This early venture reflected the entrepreneurial spirit and local focus that would continue to define the family’s work for decades to come.

Bob Shumway (Left-Center)

Bob later became active in local land acquisition, both independently and through partnerships that the family continues to maintain today. These efforts led to the development of residential communities such as Halcourt Gardens, as well as significant involvement in the regional hospitality industry. As a general partner in Hampshire Hospitality Group and Amherst Development Associates, Bob played a key role in the development and operation of several well-known properties.

Halcourt Gardens

These projects included the Route 9 Howard Johnson’s in Hadley and, in later years working alongside his son Curt Shumway, the Clarion Hotel in Northampton (now redeveloped as the Atwood Drive Professional Campus), the former Autumn Inn in Northampton, the Econo Lodge in Hadley, Holiday Inn Express (now Comfort Inn), Courtyard Marriott, and the University Lodge, which has since been redeveloped into Pleasant Hill Apartments. Together, these developments represent a long-term commitment to investing in and shaping the built environment of the region.

Today, RLS Properties continues that legacy with a focused approach to acquiring, managing, and maintaining multifamily and commercial real estate. The company remains intentionally “hyper-local,” concentrating its efforts in Amherst and the surrounding towns in order to provide attentive, hands-on management and maintain strong community ties.

Now in its third generation under Jack Shumway, RLS Properties continues to be family-operated, supported by a small group of dedicated, long-time employees who are deeply connected to the area. The company provides apartments for both students and professionals across Amherst, Easthampton, and South Hadley, along with commercial and retail spaces that support local businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of the community.

RLS takes pride not only in its properties, but also in its role as an active member of the community—supporting local institutions, following the UMass Minutemen and Amherst Mammoths, and celebrating the continued success of area businesses.

Our office is located at 236 North Pleasant Street in downtown Amherst, right behind The Town Cow. Please feel free to stop in or give us a call—we’re always glad to connect.