By By EMILY DREITZLER / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - Marz Sweet Shop found its sweet beginning as a trademark in downtown Buchanan 58 years ago and will find its bittersweet ending on June 29 at 5 p.m.
Recently, Marazita has decided to sell the business at 205 E. Front Street, in Buchanan and hand over the ice cream scoop to Jeanne and Jack Arbanas, the couple who recently purchased the shop.
Marazita finds that leaving the business isn't the hard part; the toughest part is leaving the customers she has come to know from generation to generation. "The hardest part about leaving is to leave the customers. I really appreciate their support over the years. Now I would like them to get to know Mr. and Mrs. Arbanas," stated Marazita.
Although Marazita may be selling the shop that had become a second home to her, she finds comfort in the warmhearted memories she experienced there. "When we first bought this building, we had it completely gutted. The front entrance was wooden, like stores used to be in the old days. The soda fountain wouldn't even fit through the front door at first so we had to haul it in through the window," said Marazita with a chuckle.
Marazita's son, Joe, also fondly remembers the first day Marz Sweet Shop opened; "Dad's older brother, also named Joe, opened the store on the first day of business and Mom and Dad didn't get to open the very first day."
Marazita credits much of her success in running the business to the help she received from her family. "Without the help of my two sons, Joe and Paul, and my two granddaughters, Tara and Angela, I would never have been able to stay in business by myself as long as I did," said Marazita.
Starting July 1st, Marz Sweet Shop will be known as Lucy's. New owners, Jack and Jeanne Arbanas, look forward to continuing a tradition that started so many years before; as well as adding a few new exciting things along the way.
The Arbanas looked to their daughter for inspiration when picking a new name for the sweet shop. "We named the restaurant after our three-year-old daughter, Lucy, and also after a little restaurant in Grosse Pointe, that we love," stated Arbanas.
Arbanas continued, "We decided to buy the restaurant for fun, like an adventure. We love ice cream and we love people."
Marazita looks forward to being able to have some extra free time now that the shop is sold. "I am going to take it easy, maybe go to Ann Arbor and visit my daughter," stated Marazita.
For a shop that was first opened on a Friday the 13th, Marz Sweet Shop has dispelled any bad luck superstition that the date holds.
As the many customers that found their way to Marz Sweet Shop wave goodbye to a place they had grown to love, they can reminisce in the many memories that will always remain in their hearts and find comfort in the new memories yet to be created at Lucy's.
Lucy's will officially open for business Friday, July 1, at 11 a.m.