Mars Supermarkets Still the 'Friendly Food People'

, "The Friendly Food People," is currently celebrating its 68^th anniversary with a wide variety of sales at all of their locations.

What better time to go back and look at the beginnings of the company and its history?

The very first Mars store opened in Essex and not Dundalk, as is the common belief. In 1943, Joseph D’Anna opened a small store located at an apartment complex on Old Eastern Ave. known as Mars Estates. The name for the community came from the Glenn L. Martin Company whose plane the “Mars Flying Boat" was being developed just a short distance from the apartments. The complex housed many of the workers at Martin’s.

With all of the publicity surrounding the creation of this new aircraft, it just seemed natural to Joe to name his store Mars and cash in on some of that newsworthiness. That plan that worked quite well for Joe, who opened a second store in the 200 block of Eastern Avenue in 1945. In addition, in 1945 Joe’s two younger brothers, Angelo and Carmen, returned home from World War II and immediately went to work with Joe and they became his partners.

It was not until 1946 that the brothers decided to close the Essex stores and move to a new location in Dundalk on Holabird Avenue. Shortly after that move, Joe sold his interest in the store, leaving Angelo and Carmen as equal partners with Angelo as president and Carmen as vice president. It was at that time the Mars we now know began to exist.

In 1949, Anthony, the youngest brother, came to work for Angelo and Carmen eventually becoming a partner in 1955. Anthony became a vice president and senior grocery buyer in the early 1960’s. Subsequent years saw brothers Vince and Peter join the company.

The brothers' success can be attributed to the philosophy they adopted early on and that is to provide “only the best." The best meats, the best produce, and the best and friendliest service.

As business grew, the brothers recognized the need for a second store, so in 1954 they opened the second store in Grey Manor on Old North Point Road, followed four years later by the opening of the Middle River store on Eastern Boulevard near the original 1943 store.

As sales increased at the Holabird Avenue store and space became a problem, the brothers purchased property on the opposite side of the street and built what was considered the most modern supermarket of its time in Maryland.

Over the next 26 years, the brothers were opened 10 more stores and replaced the Grey Manor store with the Lynch Manor store on Wise Avenue.

Sadly, in 1995, Angelo passed away after serving as president of the company for 50 years. At that time, Carmen assumed the title and opened three new stores before his untimely passing in 1997. Following his father's death, Vito D’Anna was appointed president of the company. For 19 years prior to that, Vito haworked his way up from a bagger to store manager to Vice President.

In 2008, Vito resigned as president and CEO for personal reasons. He continues to assist the company in a consulting capacity. Vito’s younger brother Chris took over as CEO at that time. Two other brothers, Ted and Joseph serve as vice presidents.

Today, Mars is still owned and operated by the D’Anna family. They operate 16 stores in Baltimore, Harford, Howard and Anne Arundel counties. They are a major employer in Maryland with just less than 1,700 employees. Mars has their own 300,000 square-foot distribution center to provide fresh products to all of their stores.

They purchase local seafood and produce from Maryland and offer major national brands. They also provide a limited line of their own private label goods.

(Note: the information and pictures included in this column came directly from the Mars Food web site and other sources)

For the next two weeks, to honor the month of April as being “Volunteer Appreciation Month” we will highlight local residents who volunteer their time and efforts for the benefit of all. Keep reading Patch