Sam Maceri, Sr. King of Freshness
In 1922, Tom Maceri became an independent produce vendor with offices at the Eastern Market in Detroit. He went up and down various streets peddling produce to the residents off the truck. In 1992, when he was 95 years old, he was the oldest living produce vendor in the Detroit area.
In 1936, Tom Maceri’s son, Sam, entered the family business at the age of 13, and assisted his father. First thing Sam did was to add the words, “and son” under his fathers name on the truck, and thus the name became Tom Maceri & Son. He started selling wholesale by selling bushels of cabbage to a customer and profiting $.50. He thought, this is the service that is needed.
Sam Maceri had a love for trucks and cars. In 1943, he was married. Till the day he was married he gave all the money from each day to his parents. A few days before his wedding he put the money on the table and his mother said keep it, it is your wedding gift.
“Trucks are beauties of the industry,” said Sam. In 1948, Sam purchased his first brand new truck. He had purchased others in between, but this being his first brand new truck he added all the bells and whistles. It had white wall tires and trumpet horns. You name it, it had it. The Packard News wrote an article which stated, “Many trucks operating out of the Detroit Produce Terminal are expensive and good looking. We present Tom Maceri & Son with first prize for good looks. In 1970, he bought a brand new trailer. He figured it was the last one he would purchase. So again, he went all out. The cost was from eight to nine thousand, he spent 15,500 dollars on it. He used it for 7 years. In between they grew and bought many more trailers and trucks. He sold it to his cousin Phil Riggio, who is now Aunt Mid. Phil used it until 1985. Phil’s father Dominic Riggio lived with Sam growing up. They were only 3 years apart. He was like his older brother. On September 4, 1936, they started out in the wholesale produce business, each in their own company.
Sam Maceri, worked in the wholesale industry at Tom Maceri & Son for 74 years in Detroit’s Eastern Market. He did not get his first warehouse until the early 1970’s. He would work from 2am till 11pm. He had to go and buy in the market everyday because he had no storage. His first warehouse was on Green Street near the Produce Terminal. Then as business expanded, he moved to a warehouse on the Chrysler Freeway service drive near Detroit’s Eastern Market. His next warehouse was the present Nuccio warehouse. Sam and Tony Nuccio were also like brothers. He then had to expand again. Sam Maceri’s son Anthony is now Maceri Produce located in the same building. Sam Maceri fell nearly 11 months short of celebrating 75 years in business in Detroit’s Produce Industry. He passed away on September 29, 2010. His hard work, love of the business will live on in his sons and grandsons. Anthony’s sons, Anthony and Tom, third generation, also work in the business. The youngest grandson, Tom Maceri, was named by Sam Sr.’s mother. He is just like Sam Maceri Sr. He is only 17, but thinks like Sam. He is conservative, just as if he lived back in the 1940’s. His love, passion, and common sense will get him far. Sam Maceri’s wisdom and knowledge helped everyone he knew. He was an amazing man.
Sam was also vice-president of the Detroit Metropolitan Fruit Vendors Association and the Eastern Market Merchants Association.
Maceri’s Soup & Scoop®, Pitas & Subs treats customers to a complimentary bowl of soup to help the homeless. An eatery in Shelby Township takes consideration to extreme with soup at no cost to you.
Maceri’s Soup & Scoop®, Pitas & Subs would like to invite you in for a hot bowl of award winning fresh soup. Serving from a list of over 200 varieties, that’s a lot of comfort. With the blustery days approaching, you can be assured to find the right selection for your savor.
In honor of National Soup Month, on Wednesday, January 12 from 1pm-5pm, they will be celebrating National Soup Day by offering a free bowl of soup to guests. They are determined to help the homeless again this winter. If guests would like, they can give a donation of support to help COTS Detroit.
They will be participating by serving the guest for their third year at the 12th annual Soup City Fundraiser. The event will be held this year on January 27th at the Gem Theatre. COTS Detroit helps alleviate the homeless by providing an array of services.
Maceri’s Soup & Scoop®, Pitas & Subs is located on the northwest corner of 21 Mile and Hayes in Shelby Township, Michigan. www.soup-scoop.com
Winter seems to have started early in Michigan. Seems colder this year too. With the storm this past week we have been cooking non stop. Our famous Italian traditions are a favorite. Grandma Angelina made an amazing Minestrone soup. It is one of our most popular, along with our Chicken Pastina with Grandma Pauline’s secret ingredient. You will find none like it. We serve from a list of over 200 varieties of soup made from scratch. I would say there is a top 25 that are among the favorites including Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken Lemon Rice, Broccoli Cheese, and some that are served no where else.
If you are looking for a bowl of comfort, or would like us to deliver it to a friend, just give us a call, and we can help. We are located in Shelby Township, Mi. We Deliver. www.soup-scoop.com 586-566-7484.
My Grandma was my biggest inspiration. Growing up living with my grandma, gave me the inspiration and the knowledge to further what has been instilled in me all of my life.
I think about my grandma everyday making soup and baking cakes. The pain of losing my mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, and great grandma in 5 years time was so terrific, but while cooking I would not have to think about anything else except the meals I am preparing. There is a healing that takes place in the kitchen. I have created a restaurant of comfort foods. When the going gets tough, as the trials of life, we can pick our self up with the comfort of family traditions.
The night before my grandma passed away we talked for hours until after midnight. We always talked about recipies, secrets, and cooking. She catered, made wedding and shower cakes, and helped my great grandma in her restaurant. She always shared stories. I asked her if I should cater or have a restaurant, as I had done most of my life. She said you could do both. I am doing that now. With everything I make she is with me. She would have loved to see it, and probably work there too. Creating a restaurant with items made from family traditions, including their restaurant recipes with the quality that they bring out-comfort, love, and well-being has been a life long dream. Thanks Gram for making that dream a reality.
You can find Maceri’s Soup & Scoop, Pitas & Subs serving Italian traditions straight from Grandma’s restaurant kitchen in Shelby Township, Michigan. We serve and deliver to the surrounding areas of Sterling Heights, Clinton Twp, Warren, Utica, Rochester and beyond. For a taste of homemade gourmet nostalgia, give us a call. There is none better than Grandma. www.soup-scoop.com 586-566-7484
The history of the sandwich began in 1662. Credit was given to John Montagu, 4th Earlof Sandwich. He was a British statesman. He was also an avid gambler. One particular occasion, he was gambling for 24 hours. He asked the cook to make him something so he could continue playing. The cook then prepared him meat between two pieces of toast. It was the exact thing that would allow him to keep playing and not interupt the flow of the game. The cook actually created the food, but he was not given credit for it. In England, the sandwich was only made in restaurants. It was not made in America until the late 1830′s. This is because in America they did not like to copy British style. The American sandwich was made of ham and the British was beef. This was because of availability.
Sub sandwiches were established in America in the early 1900′s by Italian immigrants from Southern Italy. It is an oblong shaped thick Italian bread or French bread stuffed with meats, cheeses, and vegetables. In the begining it was stuffed in a whole loaf of bread.
Today you can find sandwiches in over 30 varieties at Maceri’s Soup & Scoop, Pitas & Subs located in Shelby Twp, Mi. A Michigan soup company, pita and sub shop with Italian flare, and ice cream parlor. 586-566-7484. www.soup-scoop.com
