LYNN — After 52 years of working at Stacey’s Home Decor, the City of Lynn sent Vinny Lozzi off into retirement in style.
Stacey’s was opened in 1915 by Leon Stacey, who used to roam Lynn with a pushcart and repair window screens. Eventually, the pushcart became a full-fledged family-run business. When Stacey retired, he sold his business to Lozzi who has owned and operated it with his own family ever since. He worked alongside his son Anthony, who will be continuing his legacy.
At a surprise party Friday night, dozens of friends and family as well as local representatives and Stacey’s relatives came to express their love, appreciation, and well wishes to Vinny.
Anticipation grew as Anthony drove him to the party, which Vinny believed was for his wife. When the doors to the function hall opened and Vinny saw the crowd of people, he stood in utter disbelief. Family and friends rushed to hug and congratulate him for over five decades of hard work keeping a 107-year old business alive.
The group had also set up posters for Vinny, decorated with countless photographs of him and family, newspaper clippings praising his work, and letters of recognition from state officials and President Barack Obama.
Mayor Jared Nicholson called Vinny to the front of the hall and presented him with a citation, recognizing him for years of dedication to Lynn and the surrounding communities.
Nicholson spoke to Vinny, “Well, Vinny, I just want to say on behalf of the City of Lynn, we are so honored and thrilled to be able to recognize your retirement. Fifty years of the level of commitment and service that you’ve offered to this community is something really special that the entire city is grateful for.”
As Vinny stood with his son, Nicholson continued, “You’ve carried on a special legacy for a loved business that has reached over a century. That happens because of people that devote their best to serving a need and serving their customers and by doing so, you serve their families, you serve their neighborhoods … you serve an entire city.”
Anthony interrupted, joking, “Too long! He’s served way too long — he should have retired 10 years ago!”
After humbly accepting the citation from Nicholson, the emcee of the event, Allen Labella led the entire hall in singing and dancing to “That’s Amore,” all the while encouraging the crowd to honor “Our cousin Vinny.”
Emma Fringuelli can be reached at [email protected].
