South Toledo business owners remembered Mayor D. Michael Collins as a generous and personable Mayor, someone who always gave a smile and a hug, and who was still actively involved in not only visiting the businesses he once represented on City Council, but in helping them grow.
Mayor Collins never forgot his South Toledo roots. Like his Irish heritage, he held strongly to that connection. Even when he became Mayor, he still helped the neighborhood.
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Sue Meadows of Capers Pizza, 2038 S. Byrne Road, knew Collins back when he was on the Toledo Police Department and enjoyed his visits to her establishment as mayor.
When he was a City Councilman, Collins attended all the Byrne Heatherdowns Business Association meetings, trying to help the businesses solve their varied issues. As Mayor, he continued to attend. Meadows called him a “southender.”
“He was big on neighborhoods,” Meadows said. “He was very personable and he cared deeply about what he believed in and he sure believed in the City of Toledo and that the neighborhood had to be strong.”
Collins was a “busy guy,” Meadows said, but always took the time out to help with the business association. He would give guidance on what they should consider doing with their businesses and he would give the right contacts.
“The first meeting we had in 2015 he did attend to let us know he was still trying to steer us in the right direction,” Meadows said, “and that Matt Cherry would be our new council person. When you’re working and got a group of 20 businesses and trying to bring back the neighborhood and having him so supportive, it was impressive that he would take the time with everything he had to do.”
Meadows said the neighborhood experienced a crisis when three businesses decided to move out: Churchills, Frisch’s and Fleegers Pro Hardware all pulled up stakes. That’s when they formed the association to strengthen the neighborhood.
Meadows will remember most the support and direction the Mayor gave to the South Toledo businesses, and that he really wanted to do something for Southwyck, which is only a couple blocks away from Capers.
“His heart was for Southwyck,” Meadows said. “He wanted something to go in there.”
EL TIPICO
Dina Villa, the owner of El Tipico, 1444 South Avenue, said she was heartbroken over the mayor’s death and considered him a friend of hers and a friend to her business.
Her parents owned El Tipico for 47 years and Villa was two years old when she first walked into the restaurant. Now as the owner, she said she could always count on the Mayor visiting in one of his Irish sweaters, one sweater he had come directly from Ireland.
“He was just always so kind and supportive of our business as a friend,” Villa said. “I’ve never met another man who has that twinkling in his eye. I would never want to cross him either.”
Villa added she was “completely heartbroken” at the news of Collins passing.
“It’s shocking, to only have been in office a little over a year,” she said. “I do consider him a friend, personally and of our little restaurant. I say our little restaurant because we’re a small business and he supported us and he supports all small business.”
Mayor Collins took the time out of his busy day to attend El Tipico’s taco eating contest, Villa recalled, which really impressed her. She said he had a good time as a judge and was personable with everyone. He had had a funeral and a wedding to go to that day but made the time to come, she said.
“He always had a hug and a smile for me all the time,” she said. “I’m grateful he died doing what he loved the most, caring about his city. He was doing his mayoral responsibilities. God bless him.”
MICHAEL’S CAFÉ & BAKERY
Michael Armstrong, owner of Michael’s Café & Bakery, 101 Main Street, said Mayor Collins would visit his business once, sometimes twice, a week.
“Sometimes he was his wife, sometimes by himself,” Armstrong said. “He went through here several times without saying a peep, and stood in line and waited like anyone else. He was a humble, hardworking, nice man.
“He never came in like royalty or like he expected anything,” Armstrong added. “If he could come through incognito and never be recognized, he would be happier. He always went around supporting Toledo businesses the best he could. One time I told him, ‘If there’s anything we can do for you, let me know.’ And then the mayor responded very humbly, ‘If there’s anything else we can do for you as a business owner, let me know, too.’”
Armstrong said Collins passing is a “tremendous loss for the city.”
FRESH MARKET
Jeff VanPelt, manager of Fresh Market, 3315 West Central Avenue, said Collins would often interact with people when he visited. He would visit once or twice a week.
“People always said hello to him, and he was always very friendly,” VanPelt said. “When he was first elected, I told him I didn’t vote for him and he said, ‘Why’s that?’ And I said, ‘because I live in Michigan,’ and he got a big chuckle out of that.
“But he’s a good guy and I’m going to miss him a lot,” VanPelt said. “He had a good relationship with a few guys in the meat market, and he just walked around and shopped like everyone else, always with a smile on his face. Those weeks with the water crisis were tough, but he always had a smile on his face. We’re going to miss him.”
WIXEY BAKERY
Brian Wixey called Collins “phenomenal” and said he was a frequent customer of their Wixey Bakery, 2017 Glendale Ave. The Mayor looked after his community, Wixey said, and his visits there were very “personable experiences.”
“It was very off-the-cuff and very communal,” Wixey said. “We are glad to have shared time together.”
Toledo Free Press Associate Editor Tom Konecny and staff writer Matt Liasse contributed to this report.
