236
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
'''Oscar Samuel Willenzik''' ([[1918]]-[[2007]]) was a Pensacola businessman who owned [[Oscar's Penko]] restaurant supply company, located in the [[Lewis Bear Building|Lewis Bear]] and [[Willko Building]]s on [[Palafox Place]] at [[Main Street|Main]].
Raised in Pensacola, Willenzik attended Tulane University and was valedictorian of his senior class, then studied law at the University of Florida. He served in the [[Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Returning to Pensacola, he and his father, [[William Willenzik|William]], launched the Pensacola Restaurant Supply Company on [[April 1]], [[1946]], and quickly expanded their business from 1,600 square feet to 36,500 square feet.<ref name="forsale">"Historic buildings for sale." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 11, 2003.</ref> The company also included Oscar's brother , [[Norman Willenzik|Norman]] and , sister-in-law , [[Carla Willenzik|Carla]], and wife, [[Ethel Willenzik|Ethel]].
Facing an economic downturn in the new century, Willenzik consolidated much of his business and let go about half of his employees, including several family members.<ref name="forsale"/> In October [[2006]], the [[City of Pensacola]]'s [[Code Enforcement Board]] cited the Willenziks for code violations on their two properties. Oscar wrote to the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' in response to the code citation:
