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'''Oscar Samuel Willenzik''' ([[1918]]-[[2007]]) was a Pensacola businessman who owned [[Pensacola Restaurant SupplyCompany]], or "Penko", located in the [[Lewis Bear Building|Lewis Bear]] and [[Willko Building]]s on [[Palafox Place]] at [[Main Street|Main]].
==Early Life==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> Ownership expanded additionally to Oscar's brother, [[Norman Willenzik|Norman]] , by 1952. Company employees included Willenzik's sister-in-law, [[Carla Willenzik|Carla]], who was his secretary among other jobs at the store, and wife, [[Ethel Willenzik|Ethel]], who was the bookkeeper.
==End of Penko and Death==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, including nephews-in-law and salesmen [[Michael Friedman]] and [[Richard Haller]], as well as niece [[Marcy Friedman]] by 2002.<ref name="forsale"/> by 2002. Sister-in-law Carla Willenzik also left the business at this time to eventually retire 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:
{{cquote|I am still operating Oscar's Penko, Inc. as successor to Pensacola Restaurant Supply, at times unprofitably, primarily to avoid these buildings becoming vacant and being victims of vandalism and decay. [[Hurricane Ivan]] came and left its destruction, accompanied by a myriad of large problems never before experienced in our area during my lifetime. … We have already spent approximately $1,262,000 on repairs, and are in the process of entering into new written contacts, estimated to be in excess of $400,000, to complete this project. … Even Ivan, the most catastrophic hurricane to ever hit our area, and Father Time of 88 years can never take away the pride and love I have for these two buildings. It has been two years of frustration, perseverance and hard work. I hope there will be gratification in the end.<ref>"Building repair a priority downtown." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 19, 2006.</ref>}}
A few months later, on [[March 18]], [[2007]], Willenzik passed away at age 88 in Pensacola, signaling the end of Oscar's Penko, once a thriving business in the form of Pensacola Restaurant Supply.
Willenzik was past president of [[B'nai Israel Synagogue]] and a member of [[B'nai B'rith]], the [[Pensacola Federated Jewish Charities]], the [[Tiger Bay Club]], the [[Pensacola Historical Society]] and the [[Downtown Improvement Board]].
{{reflist}}
[[Category:2007 deaths|Willenzik, Oscar]] [[Category:Business biographies|Willenzik, Oscar]] [[Category:Restaurant supply entrepreneurs|Willenzik, Oscar]]
