Not long after the Blarney Irish Pub opened in 2006 in downtown Toledo, I met Ed Beczynski. I can’t recall the circumstance that put us in a conversation, probably because I was a newly elected City Council member. But I do remember walking away from our chat with the distinct impression that Toledo needs more folks like Ed to revitalize the downtown area after years of disinvestment.
By that time, Ed had already established himself as pioneering entrepreneur, a real risk taker, a player in the game of the renaissance of downtown Toledo. After a successful start with a restaurant called Eddy B’s in 1996, Ed opened Focaccia’s Deli on Summit St. in 2001 in the former HCR Manor Care (now the Summit Center) across from the OI Building (now the 5/3 Bank Building).
I found myself gravitating back to the Blarney in the hopes of additional encounters with Ed to learn more about how he was able to navigate through the challenges that plague most business owners in starting and successfully maintaining a business in Toledo. In subsequent conversations with Ed, I learned that Ed had help along the way, particularly from Jim Murray, President of Toledo Edison, who provided Ed with support and encouragement, but most of all sound business advice.
In appreciation, Ed was so grateful he named a menu item in honor of Jim, the Murray Steak Salad, which was Jim’s go-to meal at the Blarney during the many mentoring meetings he had with Ed. Additionally, when Ed expanded the Blarney, in gratitude after Jim’s passing, Ed named the new addition the Murray Room. For its dedication and grand opening, Ed mentioned that Jim’s spouse, Kay was a long-time follower of city politics and asked Ed to see if he could get the former and current mayors of Toledo to attend the dedication and ribbon cutting. Ed called me to assist in this regard and after a few phone calls Donna Owens, Carty Finkbeiner, Mike Bell, Paula Hicks-Hudson and Wade Kapszukiewicz were all in attendance.
The ease it took to secure the attendance by all of Toledo’s mayors was a tribute to the hard work and effort that businesspersons like Jim and Ed played in the success of the revitalization downtown Toledo.
The Murray Room went on to become a popular meeting spot for round-table discussions among Toledo’s movers and shakers on issues affecting our community. Ed was there for these discussions and was able to gather an appreciation for what it takes to build the consensus to move a community forward on complex issues.
In 2022, Ed was called upon to assist the Market on the Green, located at Madison and 17th Streets, using his business acumen. ProMedica, as part of their community outreach, took on the task of identifying the social determinants for poor health and quickly discovered that poor nutrition was a primary factor.
The area was a “food desert,” meaning there were no nearby options to obtain healthy food choices. After operating for awhile, the Market was in need of some of assistance with their business model to become more financially stable. Ed was called upon to provide the business assistance necessary to effect a financial turnaround.
Ed, as one of the ever-growing number of downtown residents, heard the lament about the lack of a downtown grocery. Rather than complain about the problem, Ed decided to do something about it. Ed will be opening a grocery in the former Okun Produce building (across from the Mud Hens Stadium) at 33 N. Huron by spring-summer of 2026. A project like this had been talked about for a long time. Ed’s response: fulfill the need, make it happen.
Ed was raised in south Toledo in a modest home on Dunham Street off Detroit Ave. near the railroad overpass. One of eight siblings (all sisters), Ed was a proud TPS student, graduating from Burroughs Elementary and Bowsher High School.
Ed enlisted in the US Air Force and served his country as an aircraft mechanic. Both prior to and after his military service, Ed worked in the restaurant business, doing everything from bussing tables and washing dishes to cooking in the kitchen. Hard work and dedication to his craft paid off and Ed went on to become the successful entrepreneur he is today. Ed demonstrates what it takes to be successful and I am confident he can put those same skills to work as an At-Large City Councilman.
Several months ago, I got a call from Ed. He mentioned that he was thinking of running for an at-large seat on Toledo City Council. He said he was pulling back from his restaurant businesses a little and felt a desire to give what he had been taught back to the City. He told me all the things he had learned in his business experiences could be used to help guide the entire city. He asked me if I thought he had what it takes to make a good City Council person. Without hesitation I said, “Absolutely!”
Listening to what people want and need and finding a way to put those aspirations into action are skills Ed has developed and is now ready to share with his fellow citizens. Ed is exactly who we need to help lead our City. He possesses the rare combination of being well suited (based on his business experiences) and willing (to take on an often thankless job) to represent us on Toledo City Council. Ed will be a true civil servant for Toledo.
Please join me in voting for Ed Beczynski for Toledo City Council At-Large.
