In 1948, Barney and Gil purchased
the former Anderson’s Grocery Store at 503 Robbins Avenue
and celebrated their grand opening January 16, 1948.
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Photo of Barney Macali in
Warren store on Montclair in 1953. |
In less than 10 years, the Macali brothers opened
a second store at 1328 Robbins Avenue, purchasing it from Bill
Nicholas.
The building at 1328 Robbins, was built in 1920
and occupied by the Macali’s Market from 1953-1964. |
Barney Macali(l) and Mango in
front of Mango's Taxi Service.
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Gil Macali in the Valu-King Store
on Vienna Avenue.
There is a third brother, Armand,
who has been a member of the staff of the Macali Markets since
they opened in 1948. |
The electric pony ride in front
of the Macali Market store at 353 Robbins Avenue, 1958.
It was in 1957 they consolidated
their three stores into the new structure built for them at their
present location on Robbins Avenue.
In 1974 the store was expanded when
the Macali brothers purchased the Pugh Brothers Hardware Store
and combined the two building spaces into one larger space.
The Dollar Store now occupies this
building.
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It was
in 1957 they consolidated their three stores into the new structure
built for them at their present location on Robbins Avenue. Literally
three times the size of their original store on Cedar Street,
the Macali brothers were destined for further growth.
The Macali Deluxe Market moved to a new location
at 353 Robbins Avenue in 1974. Both Barney and Gil Macali operated
this store with the Pugh Brothers Hardware store occupying one-half
of the building.
Twelve years later, they welcomed their large
clientele to a gala grand opening of their expanded quarters on
Robbins Avenue. They had taken over the former Pugh Brothers Hardware
property and remodeled and refurbished the 11,000 square foot
area. The newest and most modern equipment, latest in lighting
and up-to-the-minute products keeps the flow of business at a
steady pace for Macali’s Market.
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In 1979, after 31 years, Barney
and his brother Gil, moved into a vacant former A&P Food
Market building on Vienna Avenue operating it as a Value-King
franchise.
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Barney and Gil Macali will re-open their Valu-King
Store on Vienna Avenue on June 24, 1984, having been closed for
nearly two months after suffering $425,000 in damages due to an
arson fire in April. July 16, 1984
In 1980, after 40 years of being together, the
Macali brothers went into separate markets. They had their own
families to consider, and needed a separate business for the younger
generation of Macalis to carry on. |
Gilbert with his sons, Gil Jr. and Robert
operate Macali’s Giant Eagle on Vienna Avenue.
Barney and his son, Ralph, operate another
grocery store in the Village Plaza where the former Fazio’s
Store was located.
In fact, in August of 1987, another Macali Market
had opened at the Elm Road, Gretchen Plaza in Warren. The owner
is P.J. Macali Jr. who is following in his father’s
footsteps. |
Robert Macali in the Giant Eagle
Store, holding a collapsable delivery box from the Macali Market
at 503 Robbins Avenue.
Gil Macali, Jr. |
Niles
Daily Times January 9, 1973
In 1967 the Macali Brothers were accepted into
membership in Super Market Institute (SMI), an international research
and educational organization serving the food distribution industry.
Both Barney and Gilbert are members of the Niles
Area Chamber of Commerce and the Youngstown Grocers Association.
Both Palmer and Gilbert Macali have been active in civic and community
affairs.
Barney served as a director of the Niles Area
Chamber of Commerce and was named to the Chamber’s Ambassador
Club, formed to lure new industry and business to the area. He
is on the board of directors of the Trumbull County Easter Seal
Society, is a director of the Dollar Savings Bank, and served
as president of the Youngstown Area Grocer’s Association,
where he on the Board. He is vice-president of the Ohio Retail
Food Dealers.
A successful fund raiser, Barney Macali served
two terms as president of the Niles Community and head of the
Community Chest Drives. He is past president of the Niles Kiwanis
Club and is a member of the Niles YMCA where he also co-chaired
a fundraising drive. Barney Macali was also a co-chairman for
the drive to build Our Lady of Mount Carmel Rhodes Avenue School.
He is also a member of the Trumbull County Catholic
Social Services where he has served on the Advisory Board. As
a member of the Niles Area Chamber of Commerce and a director,
he has also served as chairman of the Chamber's Annual Golf Outing.
Married to the former Ann Lorenzetti,
they are parents of four children: Ralph, Paula, Palmer Jr.
and Maribeth. They are members of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel church.
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Niles
Daily Times January 9, 1973
Gilbert Macali, Sr.
Golf is his active sport; football his spectator
sport, and in the latter he category he’s a member of The
Frontliners, the booster organization of his alma mater’s
football team.
Gilbert, the older brother, served as President
of the Civil Service Commission before resigning due to the demands
of an expanding business.
He also served as President of the Rotary Club
and is a member of the Frontliner’s Club.
He was a member of the Niles Historical Society,
Friends of the Library, Trustee Circle of the Butler Institute
of American Art and Stambaugh Pillars. He received a Governor’s
award and was honored by the State General Assembly as an Ohio
Outstanding School Volunteer Partner.
Gil was honored by the Chamber of Commerce as
Merchant of the Year and as a Partner in Education, and received
the Giant Eagle Corporate Award for community involvement. He
was a member of the Ohio Grocer’s Association. He was inducted
into the McKinley High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2002.
He is married to the former Dolores Lapolla,
daughter of former City Streets Department Superintendent and
Mrs. Sam Lapolla of Belmont Avenue.
They have three children: Virginia, Gilbert
Jr. and Robert and make their home on Hogarth Avenue.
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