WESTFIELD—After serving Westfield area residents for over two decades, Zuber’s Ice Cream and Deli is closing.
The shop is holding its final day of business today and with the closing of the shop, owner Mike Zuber will also retire. The business has been a place for children to get free cookies, for Westfield youth sports to get financial support and for residents to gather for a sandwich, ice cream cone or coffee for 22 years. The decision is a difficult one for Zuber, but one he felt he had to make.
Mike Zuber behind the counter at Zuber’s. (photo credit: Dan Desrochers)
“My heart’s telling me not to go out of business but my brain is telling me to close,” Zuber said. “It’s tugging at my heartstrings. Thank you to all the loyal customers and employees.”
Zuber’s has spent the last 22 years in the city between two locations—10 years on Little River Road and the last 12 years at their current location on Southwick Road. The location was chosen because Westfield had become home for Zuber, though he was originally from New York City—a fact represented by his shop’s choice of bagels.
Zuber said that he ended up in Westfield after attending American International College in Springfield during the 1960s. He found his way to Westfield and was working for a period of time at Digital Equipment Corporation, a computer manufacturing company.
However, he had a passion for something else.
“I wanted to own my own business, something that looked interesting,” Zuber said.
“I wanted to work in business myself and got into the bagel, ice cream and deli business,” he said.
Zuber said that another passion drove him, as well.
Benjamin Paquette, son of Cara Paquette, both of Westfield, gets a free cookie from an employee at Zuber’s. (Photo credit: Dan Desrochers)
“My passion is the kids that worked for me,” he said. “That’s been my passion more than my business.”
In addition, Zuber said that youth sports became a focus, with his support going to many different teams over the years in Westfield. Plus, inside the parking lot youth sports teams were regularly having car washes on the weekends to help raise funds for their teams.
Vincent Olinski, a lifelong Westfield resident, said that this was one of the reasons why he supported Zuber for years.
“When I saw Mike over the years fundraising and supporting youth sports, gift certificates, when I saw a guy in town doing that much for the kids in town—that’s someone I want to support,” Olinski said.
“It’s been great, the kids are great. I’m going to miss the regulars the most,” Michelle Parker, a two-year Zuber’s employee, said. “It seems to be a very close-knit community.”
Zuber’s has found its way into the regular routine of many over the years, such as the Liptak family. Several cousins of the family have made Zuber’s a part of their Wednesday routines, meeting for coffee and food in the morning for several years.
The Liptak cousins, clockwise from top-center: Jim Liptak, Jean Halloran, Mary Lou Landis, Nancy Butler, Alice Liptak, Lillian Chistolini, Dot Kaleis. (Photo credit: Dan Desrochers)
“We started coming here eight years ago,” Mary Lou Landis, a member of the Liptak family, said. “We’ve always had so much fun visiting and teasing Mike. We wish him the best.”
Dot Kaleis, another Liptak cousin, said that the weekly excursion became a highlight of her week.
“We’ll have to find another spot that won’t push us out,” she said.
“It’s like having coffee in our kitchen,” Lillian Chistolini, a Liptak family member, said.
But the experience has not been completely great.
When the Westfield Planning Board determined that they would not grant a special permit for the Agawam DogWorks, who was looking to purchase the location for a kennel, Zuber’s plans became derailed.
The view from the rear of Zuber’s. (Photo credit: Dan Desrochers)
“I’m exploring my legal options against the planning board for the capricious and arbitrary decision they made,” Zuber said.
Now, Zuber said that he is looking to sell, lease or rent the property, which includes a view overlooking farmland behind the building.
“Because of the view I always thought it would be best for a high-end restaurant, but it could be an apartment or a strip mall,” he said.
“My retirement is invested in this property,” he said.
