This 1960s shop owner trucked in snow from Crystal Mountain for kids to play in Pierce County
Nearly 60 years ago, officials shut down Main Street in Sumner.
It wasn’t because of an emergency.
They closed the street so crews could truck in snow from Crystal Mountain, creating a winter festival for those who lived there.
Michael Strozyk, 64, doesn’t remember the exact year, but he believes it was around 1965. He recalls that time in Sumner’s history – children playing in the snow and making snowmen. His father, Anthony “Tony” Strozyk, was the person who made it all possible.
Tony Strozyk was the owner of Valley Variety in downtown Sumner. He opened the store in 1961 at 1114 Main St. (now Trackside Pizza). He later moved the store across the street to 1201 Main St. (now CRAFT.19) to have a bigger space. The store closed in 1978.
The store sold a plethora of items. Patrons could expect to find seasonal merchandise, sewing supplies, sunflower seeds, clothing, toys, candies and trinkets, among other items.
The store used to have advertisements in The News Tribune, formerly The Tacoma News Tribune. In the June 3, 1962 issue an advertisement said an ice chest cost $2.44. A pocket radio cost $4.44. A swimming pool set cost $6.66.
Elaine Munson, 70, used to work at Valley Variety. She would work after school and on the weekends. She said Tony Strozyk was a great boss, and that he had a knack for knowing what people needed.
“People … relied on going in that store – not having to go off and drive somewhere to find anything they were looking for,” Munson said.
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Tony Strozyk was active in the community. He always participated in the Daffodil Festival by wearing bright yellow clothing and helping assemble floats. He was friends with everybody, Michael Strozyk said.
“He was extremely proud and loved his community,” Michael Strozyk said about his father.
Michael Strozyk said he does not know why his father decided to open Valley Variety. However, he knows that his father liked variety stores, and that he wanted to take a gamble by opening one in Sumner.
Tony Strozyk was born in Oregon. He graduated from Valley High School in Raymond, Washington. He joined the U.S. Army. He lived in Centralia, Auburn and Sumner.
Tony Strozyk passed away on Oct. 28, 2021. He was 88. He is survived by sons Randy Strozyk, Michael Strozyk and Scott Strozyk.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story gave inaccurate locations for Valley Variety. The store was first at 1114 Main St. Then it moved to 1201 Main St.
This story was originally published December 18, 2023 at 5:15 AM.
