There’s something about a couple who’ve been married 37 years, have worked together for 34 in a tough business and sit shoulder-to-shoulder, laughing and joking while being interviewed.
Margaret and Jack Bucior, owners of Suffield Pizza for 22 years, said they enjoy what they do. It’s not easy work, but it’s very rewarding.
Suffield Pizza owners Jack and Margaret Bucior. Their two college-aged sons help when the restaurant gets busy.
“Honestly, I think everyone should work for one season at a restaurant,” said Jack. The two feel that between multitasking, communicating with other people and learning about customer service, the experience is invaluable.
Pizza shops are in the family — Jack was a Volvo dealership mechanic, and Margaret was a bank teller when they started considering buying a pizza shop, but Jack’s brother-in-law owned one in Hartford, and his brother-in-law’s brother owned one in Coventry. That stirred their interest. They bought and sold two other pizza shops in Bristol and Wallingford before buying Suffield Pizza in 2002.
Today, they employ 12 workers, some for 18 years. They’re proud of that longevity, and Margaret grinned when she said that some current employees are the children of former employees.
Sixty to seventy percent of their business is pick up – like pizzas, salads and dinners, said Jack. They also provide some catering, typically to 30 or 40 people.
Indebted to Suffield
The Buciors appreciate their customers, especially how they stuck by them during Covid. Jack used words like “awesome” and “very supportive” to describe them. “We have a lot of good customers. It’s like a whole big family,” said Margaret.
Their appreciation extends to their landlord, Matt Falkowski, who allowed them to set up a patio to help survive Covid and provided other aid.
The Buciors, who emigrated from Poland, believe in giving back to the community. They are generous with local charities like the Little Sisters of the Poor in Enfield and Suffield Community Aid. Jack has also volunteered on the Suffield Fire Commission for eight years.
The Suffield Observer thanks the Buciors for their consistent advertising support from the start.