“Just give the food away”

LORAIN, Ohio – A Lorain restaurant’s last day of business turned into an act of kindness.

Broadway Mary’s closed its doors indefinitely on Wednesday. The downtown breakfast and lunch spot was known for its eclectic vintage decor, complete with a wall of records, a giant disco ball and a working retro television that often played mid-century cartoons.

“The old decor and the old jazz music, everything,” said customer Myra Hernandez.

Liz Sniezk added: “She just knew how to make this place shine. And maybe it’s because of the disco ball.”

Sniezk is the mother of owner Mary Szefcik. She told News 5 that she watched her daughter work tirelessly to build a business where she could combine her passion for food and community service. This week, Szefcik announced in a social media post that she would be closing the restaurant.

“It breaks me because this was her dream,” said Sniezk.

Broadway Mary’s opened in February 2020, just weeks before the world shut down during a global pandemic. The restaurant survived the health crisis and a major construction project in downtown Lorain. But Szefcik, a single mother of a 6-year-old daughter, said inflation and stagnant sales have made the business’s overhead and operating costs unsustainable.

“Food costs have gone up dramatically with minimal customer traffic. We’re in an attractive location,” Szefcik said. “But it wouldn’t be fair to my loyal customers to say, ‘That’s it. We’re done. We’re closed.'”

Instead of closing abruptly or continuing normal business operations on the last day, Broadway Mary’s served its customers free of charge on Wednesday until supplies ran out.

“It was actually my daughter who came up with the idea,” said Szefcik. “She said, ‘Just give the food away.'”

When Broadway Mary’s opened on its final day, a line snaked out the door. Customers who wanted to order one last filling breakfast burrito, avocado toast or chicken and waffles said the free food was a typical gesture from the restaurant owner.

“It just shows what a beautiful heart she has,” Hernandez said.

Many customers shared detailed accounts of Szefcik’s willingness to help throughout Lorain. Some recalled how she prepared deliveries for homebound individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, donated meals to school groups and others, or gave away warm clothing during the winter months.

“You could pull a meal coupon off the wall and get free breakfast or coffee. She always put mittens, gloves and hats on the fence,” said customer Lori Olson.

Others praised the welcoming atmosphere at Broadway Mary’s, from breakfast gatherings to karaoke and after-hours events.

“It promotes camaraderie and friendships. That’s what the world needs,” says customer Debbie Siss.

Szefcik said she was moved by the outpouring of support on Wednesday and the positive comments on social media.

“I didn’t realize how much I was impacting so many people’s lives. I just thought, ‘Wow.’ It was a wake-up call for me, too,” she said.

Szefcik is a proud Lorain native and said she has her fingers crossed for the city’s future.

“I just got a tattoo of the Lorain Palace chandelier. I’m 100% Lorain. I love Lorain,” she laughed, also showing off her first Lorain motif – an image of a lighthouse with the inscription “Shining since 1917.”

The former owner of Broadway Mary’s said she is a passionate advocate for Lorain’s revitalization and investing in the community.

“Lorain needs it. They deserve good things here,” she said.

While she acknowledged that her next steps are not yet concrete, she hopes to work in another capacity where she can give back to the community.

“I feel like I have to continue my mission and that means bringing Lorain back,” Szefcik said.