Founder of Holiday Market, Thomas Violante, dies at 95

Longtime Royal Oak business owner and founder of the popular and Holiday Market, Tom Violante, has died.

Violante, a devoted family man, who was known for his commitment to Holiday Market and to the Royal Oak community for 70 years, died at his Birmingham home on Tuesday, his 95th birthday, according to his family obituary .

Known as an innovator in the grocery business, Violante enhanced the experience at Holiday Market with an in-store bakery, freshly made submarine sandwiches, and beers from around the world, according to his family obituary. The market was one of the first retailers to be open on Sundays.

Violante was born in Detroit. The grocery business ran deep for Violante, who grew up in the industry. His dad had a small market on John R and McNichols in Detroit, where Violante and other family members worked.

When he turned 18, Violante entered the Air Force and served for four years.

After returning home, he took a job working as a meat cutter at a Royal Oak Kroger store. In an interview with the Free Press for his 91st birthday, Violante said owning his own store happened by chance when he stopped at a mom-and-pop store on Main Street in Royal Oak for a pack of cigarettes and six-pack of beer.

Violante, according to his son, Tom, reached by phone on Wednesday, convinced the owner to sell him the store on credit. And in 1954, Violante and his wife, Janet, bought that store and reopened it as a small neighborhood butcher shop and specialty store.

His son Tom said his father had a strong work ethic that he imparted to others and also understood that working at the market was a first job for many people.

"A lot of those people, they could be in California or could be a doctor or lawyer, accountant, were always fond of the time that they worked here, and they developed some work ethic and some guidance that was foundational for them," his son said.

While Tom Violante and sister Gina Mangold have run the store on South Main Street in Royal Oak for many years, Violante could be spotted there several days a week.

Customers could often find Violante, sitting in a high-top chair, near register five at the store.

"He would ask every customer that walked by him, 'Did you find everything you were looking for,'" Hannah Frank, the stores marketing manager, said.

Frank said Violante was also known for his famous phrase: "If we don't have it, you don't need it, but we will get it for you anyway," she said.

Violante's level of work ethic and commitment to customers was unwavering. He would work every Thanksgiving with a job to bring home a cooked turkey, his son said. But several times, his son remembered, instead of a cooked turkey he would come home with two pans full of fried chicken.

"My mom would go, 'You didn't,' and he would say "I couldn't let you know (a customer) ... go home without a cooked turkey, cooked turkey, so I gave her ours," his son said.

Over the years, Violante's beloved neighborhood market expanded from one small grocery store to a facility that's more than 60,000 square feet. The store occupies nearly an entire city block on the south end of Royal Oak. There's a catering arm, bakery, smokehouse, and Mirepoix Cooking School. There's also a Holiday Market Select store on Maple in Birmingham. Holiday Market employs nearly 300 people.

Violante was also committed to the community and to several local organizations, including as chair of the Royal Oak Boys and Girls Club, Lion's Club, Oak Park School Board as well as other community charities, according to his obituary.

"There was an infinite amount of charities he would support," his son said.

On Friday and Saturday, the market's planned 70th celebration will go on.

"He died on his birthday, and we chose Saturday, the market's 70th birthday, to have his funeral," his son said.

Violante is survived by Janet, his wife of 70 years, daughters Gina (Craig) Mangold, Lisa (John) Pardington, Lori London and son Tommy (Ann Marie), grandchildren Shelby, Adam, Leanne, Jenny, Alison, Claire, Emily, Jack, Abigail, Noah, Antonia and Tommy. along with numerous great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Steven Violante, grandchildren Max Pardington, Christopher Violante and Audrey Saier.

Arrangements are being handled by A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home at 32515 Woodward Ave., in Royal Oak. A visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 32515 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak.

On Saturday, there will short visitation from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1800 W. Maple Rd. in Birmingham. A service takes place at 11 a.m. followed by a brief gathering in the church common area.

The family asked for donations to the Royal Oak Lions Club or the Metro Detroit Youth Club in lieu of flowers.