Magyar News, 2000. szeptember-2001. augusztus (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2001-07-01 / 11-12. szám

Starting on previous page: The hotdog stands - Seaside Park (insert Béla Maráczi), Boston Avenue and Breezy Point in Lordship

should consider getting remarried. Her father was a very caring person and did not want to hurt Mary by getting married to a woman that Mary did not get along with, so he told Mary that her approval was very important in choosing a new wife. A couple of names got mentioned to Mary as possibilities, and she did not say anything; her silence told volumes to her father though. None of these women had what it took in Mary's eyes until a named was mentioned. Mary knew her from church as a nice lady and a fine churchgoer. She was the one, and she told her father this. They were married, and Mary continued to have a great relationship with her stepmother until her death.

Another great story was the way that Mary met her husband, Béla Maráczi. This story exemplifies the values of hard and consistent work that would make them a success in the hotdog business and in life. Ever since Mary was 16 she had a couple of suitors and especially one that was very persistent. He would wait for Mary on the comer near St. Stephen's church hoping that she would pay him some mind. When the family moved, he would help her father in the garden on Saturdays. It so happened that Béla Maráczi's sister lived next door to Mary and her father. In 1922 Béla came to America by the sponsorship of his sister and her husband. He soon became enamored by young Mary and wanted to show her father that he was worthy of Mary's hand in marriage. Every time the suitor would come over to help the father in the garden, Béla would literally hop the fence to show his presence. Just like in business Béla knew what he wanted and how to get it. He told her father, why should I help you in the garden when I can work at the barbershop on Saturdays and make enough money to buy this entire garden in just two Saturdays work. One couldn't argue that.

Béla's hard work and persistence paid off, and they were married in 1923, one year after they met at the Holy Trinity Church on Bostwick Avenue. Even though she attended St. Stephen's Church Mary was baptized Greek Catholic and would have had to pay both the priests from St. Stephen's and Holy Trinity. So they decided to marry at Holy Trinity to waive the fee from St. Stephen's, -good business sense. In that one year Béla had managed to save S500 by working three jobs and even

learned English in night school. He paid back his sister $200 for bringing him over and putting him up, gave Mary $100 dollars for the ring, and after the wedding and other expenses they had $12 with which to start their life together.

Later, blessed with a baby, Béla began working at the Locomobile Company and would moonlight painting the gold leafing for the P.J. Murphy Trucking Company. He was very talented in this type of fine detail work. He was considering getting a push cart hotdog stand in New York so when he told P.J. Murphy about this idea, Murphy had another option for Béla. He told Béla that he could have a piece of land located on 110 Main Street for a year, if he painted his trucks, and at the end of the year if he was happy with it, he could buy it. Béla and a partner set up shop in a 14' by 14' building on July 3, 1931, selling hamburgers and hotdogs for ten cents and soda for five. They brought in $7.00 on their first day. Business was much better for Maráczi's the second day which was the 4th of July Holiday making $60. After the year they purchased the land and continued to prosper for eight years while turning the 14' by 14' stand into a restaurant that seated 96 people. They sold it in 1940. The Maráczis also had one of the first refrigerated ice cream machines outside of commercial use during this time. Béla Maráczi considered his business to be depression proof. He figured that one could take their girl out on a date for less then a dollar. The best movie in town cost a quarter per ticket and a hotdog and a coke was 15 cents, equalling 80 cents for two.

With the help of their two sons the Maráczi family reopened the hotdog business in July 1950 at 21 Boston Avenue. They bought the land from Sid Brown, who owned a Chrysler Dealership, and as one of the conditions of the deal, Mrs. Maráczi was able to finagle a new Chrysler in addition to the property. As her son Béla said she was always a smart businesswoman. This location became a bastion of efficiency due to the intelligent operations and wisdom of Béla and Mary. This was so much the case that a large well-known chain sent executives to study the Maráczi Snack Shop for ideas in improving their own efficiency. They sold this location to Harold and Jack Berkowitz, owners of a couple of diners in the area in 1956. They

liked the business because there was no waste at the end of the day. There was nothing left to throw away. They maintained the name for 10 years under the stipulation that if they something unacceptable against them that they would have to relinquish the name. The Maráczi name was very important to Béla and Mary. They were proud of what they had accomplished and rightfully so. The Berkowitzs carried on the business without any problems and later changed the name of the restaurant to Duchess and later decided to start a franchise.

In 1958 the Maráczis purchased a hotdog stand located at Breezy Point in Lordship which they maintained for four years with the help of their two sons, Bill and Bob. They sold the business in 1963 the year after the passing of Mr. Maráczi. The two sons blessed with the same business sense and work ethic achieved their own success: Bill with his liquor store, Bob in banking and his famous Athletic Club in Stratford.

The Maráczi's never forgot their Hungarian roots while living the American Dream. Throughout their lives they sent packages filled with all of the amenities that were difficult to obtain in Hungary to relatives and friends. They also gave the opportunity to come to America to two families they sponsored during the turmoil of 1956. They continued their generosity of helping many others. Mrs. Maráczi kept living alone until she was ninety years old, when she decided to put herself into Lord Chamberlain Nursing Fascility. Her son Bill recalls taking his mother to visit friends at various assisted homes in the area, but what Bill did not know was that she was not only visiting friends but checking out the places, trying to figure which would be the best one for her. She did not want her children to feel any guilt over putting her in a home so she bore the responsibility of making the decision. Both of her children offered to build additions onto their houses for her, but she wanted them to have their own lives. This was really a noble, dignified and considerate act that is a testament to her strong character. She still givesbadvise to her 8 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren when they regularly visit her.

God bless Mary Ducsay Maráczi, a remarkable woman with a remarkable life.

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