Opening of the store flyer 1964

History of Mario’s Food Centre

381 McArthur Avenue Vanier   ON   K1L 6N5

Mario’s Food Centre has always been a family operated business.  It was initially started by Francisco and Natalia Martinho.  They had left their native Portugal in 1958 in search of a new life.  Their first stop was Toronto.  In Toronto there were many Portuguese food items available and this made adapting to new the world simpler.  They were able to maintain their diet from back home.  After establishing themselves in Ottawa, in 1960 they realized that there was absolutely nothing available of Portuguese goods.  In order to maintain the diet to which they had grown accustom, several trips were organized to Toronto to obtain the foodstuffs that were readily available there.  It was then in 1961 that Mario Marques (brother of Natalia Martinho) had arrived from Portugal.  Francisco Martinho had a trade in electronics (TV and radio repairs, etc.) and Natalia Martinho was a school teacher back in Portugal. 

It was 1961 when Francisco and Natalia decided to provide the Portuguese community in the Ottawa and Hull area with Portuguese goods since there was nothing available to them.  Francisco had already made several contacts in Toronto for Portuguese food items, thereby making it easier to seek these items out.  It was at this time Francisco purchased a used 1958 Pontiac station wagon.  With the vehicle they now had the necessary tools to make the trip back and forth from Toronto to purchase merchandise.  They would go door to door to all the Portuguese residents in the Ottawa-Hull region looking for customers.  With a reasonable amount of orders in their possession they would drive to Toronto pick up the items and then deliver them to the customers.     

Business started to pick up and Mario Marques joined in the sales team.  Seeing as how business was growing they were scouting for a store front property to sell their wares.  It was then in 1964 when they were making a delivery to McArthur Tailor and Cleaning at 387 McArthur Avenue (at the time the owner was Portuguese) they saw a “FOR SALE” sign at 381 McArthur Avenue.  Things were tight but miraculously a plan was put together to purchase the property, merchandise and equipment.  A Sears credit card helped in the purchase of a freezer so that frozen fish could also be sold.  On the ground floor food items were sold and in the basement Francisco repaired TV’s and radios.  Francisco also had a full time job outside of the business and the earnings from the job certainly helped the business through difficult times as there were several overhead costs that just weren’t there when they were going door to door.

It was 1968 when Mario Marques took control of the business.  Francisco and Natalia moved back to Portugal and headed into other ventures in their lives.  Mario expanded slowly through difficult times.  Being a one man operation was not the easiest thing since there was no other outside job to help pay bills.  It was for several years that Mario would open at about 7 am and stay until 1 am just in the hopes that there would be enough sales to pay bills and purchase more merchandise. 

Mario Marques was a simple and good man.  He never expected to get rich but to make an honest living was his motto.  Over the many years he operated the store, he never hesitated to help unfortunate individuals when they desperately were in need of some food.  Unfortunately, there were always those who took advantage of his kindness, but this did not deter him. 

In December of 1980 at the age of 12, Filipe Correia (Mario’s nephew) began helping out around the shop doing various chores.  It was then in the early 1990’s that Filipe began helping with the running of the operation.  Many new ideas were implemented and new plans were made for future improvements.  This would be the transition of operations from Mario Marques to Filipe Correia.  Over the years both worked happily side by side.

In 2001 Mario began planning his retirement.  Unfortunately, Mario passed away on October 13th 2001, three days after turning 62 years of age.  He operated the store almost to the day that he passed away.  It was a sad day for everyone who knew him.  In the almost 40 years that he was attached to the business he managed to touch many people.  It is interesting to hear stories of customers’ experiences with Mario.

Filipe Correia now owns and operates Mario’s Food Centre.  He tries to run the shop exactly as his uncle Mario operated it.  He was taught from day one back in 1980 to treat the customers with courtesy and honesty.  This experience is what has helped Mario’s Food Centre to keep old customers and bring in new ones.  It no longer caters specifically to only the Portuguese community.  It brings people from many cultures together, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and of course North America.  It is amazing that food has no boundaries or political barriers.  It brings us all together.

It is a tradition of family values that will be celebrating 40 years in June 2004.  Hopefully, it will continue to thrive for many years to come and serve the community even longer.

Portrait of Mario

Filipe Correia

Mario on Delivery

Natalia Martinho

Natalia and Francisco Martinho