MARILYN TORTOLANO (at right) served as master of ceremonies at the unveiling of the plaque (at left) honoring the Zlaket family and Zlaket’s Market on Main Street in Garden Grove (OC Tribune).

Zlaket’s Market may have closed after 87 years on Garden Grove’s historic Main Street, but now it looks like it will be there, in a sense, for perhaps another 87 years.

On Tuesday, the Garden Grove Downtown Commission honored the Zlaket family, who operated the iconic business from the Roaring Twenties into the Information Age. 

A plaque commemorating their contributions to the community was unveiled on the front of the building that once housed the market which served as a focal point for the downtown area.

“For nearly nine decades and counting, Zlaket’s Market has been synonymous with Garden Grove,” said Marilyn Tortolano, vice president of the Downtown Commission and who served as master of ceremonies,

 “As Garden Grove’s oldest family-owned and operated business, Zlaket’s served generations of families, and optimized the meaning of hometown spirit like no other,” said Tortolano

Mayor Steve Jones also spoke, recalling his own experiences as a patron of the store and friend of family members who ran it from 1988: Leo Jr., Virginia and their son, David.

“Some of my most cherished memories growing up in Garden Grove were coming to Zlaket’s,” he said. “Bringing my own family to Zlaket’s and telling them the amazing history behind the business was a tremendous joy for me as a parent. Zlaket’s is the epitome of hard and honest work dedication and strength that comes from family.”

Also speaking were David and Virginia, who shared memories and expressed their gratitude for the honor.