“Every Saturday, my grandpa would pick my sisters and me up, bring us to the market, and we’d help out,” says Shelly Okun, fourth-generation owner of the 102-year-old Sam Okun Produce Co. “My sisters and I all grew up in downtown Toledo from an early age.”
Shelly’s story is like her father’s, Fred Okun, who started helping out his father at the produce company at age 13. Century old family businesses like Sam Okun Produce Co. don’t survive by accident— they thrive on hard work, and it doesn’t fall far from the tree. The business began with Sam Okun, who started off with a one-horse cart in 1914.
Since then, Okun Produce has maintained a presence in downtown Toledo through its ups and downs. They thrived during the economic boom with Tiedtke’s. They stayed strong during the urban core’s financial fall, when businesses moved to the suburbs, leaving company’s Huron Street building to be surrounded by barren streets. Now, the business thrives with a neighboring baseball stadium, high-end restaurants, galleries and bars.
“When I grew up, there was no downtown for young people. So, when I see my son, Adam Goldberg, who opened Gathered Glassblowing Studio, say he wants to be a part of Toledo’s downtown… it’s incredible,” says Shelly.
Unsung Heroes is sponsored by Market on the Green. Part of ProMedica Ebeid Institute, the market is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our community by increasing access to healthy, affordable food; delivering nutritional education; and providing job training opportunities.
“Every Saturday, my grandpa would pick my sisters and me up, bring us to the market, and we’d help out,” says Shelly Okun, fourth-generation owner of the 102-year-old Sam Okun Produce Co. “My sisters and I all grew up in downtown Toledo from an early age.”
Shelly’s story is like her father’s, Fred Okun, who started helping out his father at the produce company at age 13. Century old family businesses like Sam Okun Produce Co. don’t survive by accident— they thrive on hard work, and it doesn’t fall far from the tree. The business began with Sam Okun, who started off with a one-horse cart in 1914.
Since then, Okun Produce has maintained a presence in downtown Toledo through its ups and downs. They thrived during the economic boom with Tiedtke’s. They stayed strong during the urban core’s financial fall, when businesses moved to the suburbs, leaving company’s Huron Street building to be surrounded by barren streets. Now, the business thrives with a neighboring baseball stadium, high-end restaurants, galleries and bars.
“When I grew up, there was no downtown for young people. So, when I see my son, Adam Goldberg, who opened Gathered Glassblowing Studio, say he wants to be a part of Toledo’s downtown… it’s incredible,” says Shelly.
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Unsung Heroes is sponsored by Market on the Green. Part of ProMedica Ebeid Institute, the market is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our community by increasing access to healthy, affordable food; delivering nutritional education; and providing job training opportunities.
