The Special Couple at Eastern Market
Reported by Erik Smith
Web produced by Christiana Ciolac

Eastern Market

It has been a centerpiece at the table of Detroit life longer than any of us have been around.

"It's not like it was years ago. There would be thousands of farmers down here. We had an international blends of every nationality coming in here," said Sal Ciaramitaro.

It has fed us, amused us, filled our gardens and flower boxes. It was there before the automobile, through two world wars, a depression and heavens knows how many recessions.

"I would say goes back to 1840."

Eastern Market, the place where Sal and Ann have spent almost every day of their 55 years of married life.

"She put up with me for 55 years, got to be all right."

Ciaramitaro Bros. Food and Produce

If you've even spent an hour around the market, chances are you may already know or have met Sal because he's always somewhere inside of the green building that bears his family name, Ciaramitaro Bros. Food and Produce. Now you've been what, 74 years?

"I have been here 74 years."

Since he has been 6-years-old, he has hanging out around the corner in the green building. That adds up to a lifetime in the produce business. Sometimes six or seven days a week, Sal and Ann have spent their married days together at the market, he in his office, she in hers, linked by an impulsive phone call from Mackinaw Island to St. Louis, Missouri, over five decades ago.

Sal and Ann

"You know where I proposed to her from? I called her from Mackinaw Island. I called her home in St. Louis, Missouri. That's where I asked her."

"He asked me a little bit when he had seen me again, he told me that he loved me and cared for me. I thought that was so romantic. Everything was starry eyed. These are going out today."

So in classic literature, love stories usually don't begin quite that way but make no mistake here, Sal is obviously Ann's prince charming and she is Cinderella. Even at 3 a.m., when it's time to rise and shine and head back down to the market.

"When we first started here 28 years ago, I had to be down here by 3 and we worked till 2, 3, 4 in the afternoon. That was a long day, but this is really great."

Usually after the morning chaos subsides and a little quiet returns to Russell Street, Mr. and Mrs. C walk down to the other corner for a few minutes of conversation, some coffee, some scrambled eggs and toast for Sal, a few minutes to be husband and wife, maybe to talk about the kids or that vacation they've planned, you know, talk about life.

Just so you know, Sal is actually talking a little about retirement these days and he is not getting any argument from his better half.

Sal and Ann

Why not retire now? Half a century in the green building on the corner is, you'll agree, a long time in anybody's book and for the market's special couple, it has been the book of love, for each other, for the market, for the green building on the corner, for all of Detroit.

"It's given us a wonderful life. I don't like to see the day that it's going to be closed but our memories will survive. That's for sure."

That's my kind of love story, happy.

See more of Eastern Market.

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