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“I think we just wanted to create a charming place for people where, you know, they can run into a bunch of people, and it’s like one big happy family,” said co-owner Anna Banasik-Mrowca.

She and business co-owner Elizabeth Tyszko decided to open before this past Christmas and are so glad they did.

“We had a lineup because of Christmas and people were excited they didn’t have to drive to other cities for these products,” said Banasik-Mrowca.

She knew when she saw the interaction between customers, people in the community that hadn’t seen each other in some time, that they had made the right decision to open as soon as they could. Although she said there are some disadvantages to their business being right on the street and not in a bigger plaza, it was exactly what they were looking for in a location.

“It’s so lovely when you see people walking by and stepping in,” she said.

The Ward 1 community has already been a great support, and they have had amazing reviews. Of course, their families have been there for them every step of the way.

“The kids are helping out, they’re so excited,” said Banasik-Mrowca. “They’re making sure things are running the way the younger generation is envisioning, too.”

She said they have always wanted to open an Eastern European store in ���߲ݴ�ýbecause they always had to drive to other cities to find the items they wanted.

The two owners have been friends for more than 20 years and are both a part of the Polish Canadian community here.

“I think since we were all immigrants, who came to Canada, and our family members were limited, our friends, they became our family,” said Tyszka.

Both women shared that they have faced significant losses in their lives in the past two years, with first Banasik-Mrowca’s husband, Joe, dying suddenly, and then Tyszko losing her son, Eric, at the age of 26, about eight months later.

Banasik-Mrowca said her daughter Sofia has told her that opening this business is the best thing that could have happened for all of them.

“I think building this was also to show the kids the strength to keep going, to keep moving forward. It’s so hard, you may not ever come out of it, but you just find a way. You find an avenue to concentrate on to continue,” said Banasik-Mrowca.

Tyszka said it’s true that their grief has brought them even closer together.

“I have to be busy, because without being busy, I don’t know what I will become,” said Tyszko. “To go through all the grief and pain we have, we have to catch something, hold on to that, otherwise it would be very hard to go through.”

Tyszko said she and her friend both had a dream and talked about this business for many years, but there was never a perfect time to build it.

“Somehow, last year, we decided it was time to do this,” said Tyszko. “Maybe it’s because we both lost our closest ones. Joe, Anna’s husband, always wanted to have a business like this, and my son would always tell me, ‘Mom, don’t be afraid.’”

They hope to incorporate more culture, traditions, music and art into their business for the future, as well as their children and generations to come.

“We don’t know what the future will be, right? Or who we’re going to love or lose in our lives. Everybody has a different journey,” said Tyszko. “We have to support one another and sometimes just listen to other people’s stories. We all have our stories. Sometimes we see happy, beautiful people, but we don’t know what they’re going through.”

For now, the friends will continue working to support their dream, their families and celebrate the time they have with the community.

More information about their market and deli can be found on and A&E Market + Deli will soon have a website. Banasik-Mrowka and Tyszko hope everyone will come in to visit them in person, too.

“Everyone is welcome,” said Banasik-Mrowca.