Seventy years ago, Hungarians stood up for freedom, dignity, and a better tomorrow.
For many families, ours included, the Hungarian Revolution meant starting over somewhere new.
When my father, William Mihalik, first came to Canada, he arrived with a few belongings and a lot of hope. In 1958, he opened this shop in Kensington Market. By the time the rest of our family joined him, it was already a place where people knew his name. We found a community that welcomed us and gave us the chance to grow.
Today I run the shop my father started, and my son, Tom Jr., works alongside me. One day he’ll take it over and look after you the way my father taught me.
We are grateful beyond words. We’re proud of where we came from, and deeply thankful for the peace and freedom we’ve found in Canada.
To our neighbours, our friends, and our customers: thank you for welcoming us and our heritage, and for letting us become proud Canadians in our own colourful way. Thank you for letting us serve this community all these years.
If you’re passing by, please come in. We’d love to share our story with you.
Köszönöm (Thank you), and cheers to freedom.
— Tom Mihalik and family
