Famous for ice cream pies, Metallo’s is one of the last independent corner stores

Metallo’s Mini Mart on Northern Avenue is one of very few locally owned and operated convenience stores remaining in Sault Ste. Marie.

Established in 1996 by Ezio Metallo, the store has been owned and operated by Gary Trembinski since 2002.

“We’ve got a lot of regular customers. They come from all over the city. The store couldn’t be better located. They come from the west end, the central area, the east end, they come from everywhere to come to the store and I’m so appreciative of that. I’ve made a lot of friends through the store,” Gary said, speaking to SooToday.  

Apart from offering the usual convenience store products, one of Metallo’s Mini Mart’s specialties is homemade ice cream pies.

“We make them right here. I remember, as a kid, Model Dairy had ice cream pies. It was a real treat for us, so I decided I’d make my version of what I remembered as an ice cream pie. I started making them and next thing I knew we had 26 different varieties (including butterscotch pecan, chocolate pecan, Oreo, lemon, strawberry, cherry, peanut butter cup, pumpkin and more).”

“My popcorn is famous too. One of my customers comes in religiously once a week to get his popcorn,” Gary said with a grin. 

“We’ve got great sales in lottery tickets and Instant tickets. People like the fact they have a place where they can stand and chit chat while they buy tickets.”

“I pride myself on friendly service. We pride ourselves on getting to know our customers. I’m proud of my staff,” said Gary, who spends at least part of every day of the week at the store.

Metallo’s still offers DVDs for rental, Gary said, copies of 2019 films Motherless Brooklyn, Harriet, and Terminator: Dark Fate in his hands. 

“Some people just don’t like the technology of today. They don’t understand it, so they just want to come and get a movie and relax, and that’s part of what I offer.”

A Sault native, Gary is a familiar face in the city, known for his community involvement.

Now 62, Gary said, “My grandparents' farm was located where Korah Collegiate and the McMeeken Centre were built. It was their farm that was purchased by the city to make way for those projects. My Dad decided to move across the road to a pasture we had. It was 15 acres.”

“That’s where my interest in the development of the city started. Development was quite strong in the west end at the time. Soo Mill was buying property, Headway Homes were buying properties and developing them for housing.”

“Frank Manzo was a friend of the family. I was able to meet Nick Trbovich, Vic Gardi, Mike Sanzosti… at a very young age, I had an inspiration to be like one of these people, to help people like they did.”

At 25, Gary ran for a seat on city council for Ward 6 in 1982 and won.

“We had the construction of the west end sewage treatment plant going on and every road in the west end was dug up,” Gary recalled, stating it was a tough time to sit on council.

Defeated in the 1985 municipal election, Gary ran to regain a seat on council in three subsequent elections, once again winning a seat for Ward 6 in 1994.

He said being a city councillor in the Sault was a difficult job due to the local political and economic climate at that time, most of the councillors from 1994-1997 swept out of office in the 1997 municipal vote. 

“I lost again in 97’ and thought ‘that’s enough for council,’” Gary said, but added, “I very much enjoyed it.”

Fast forward to 2014.

“It was the very last day (for individuals to register to run for city council or school board seats in the 2014 municipal election). I had contemplated running to be a trustee (for the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board).”

“I called my wife and said ‘you’d better come to city hall.’” 

“She said ‘why do I have to come to city hall?’”

“I said ‘there’s somebody here who says you have to sign some papers for him. She said ‘who?’ I said ‘me. You have to come and sign my nomination papers.' She said ‘what are you running for now?’” Gary remembered with a chuckle.

He won a seat as a H-SCDSB trustee in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018, serving as vice-chair in 2017-2018, with the needs of special education students especially near and dear to his heart.

Throughout his life, Gary worked for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, then as a realtor for 10 years before taking a job as an auto body/automotive supply salesperson.

Desiring a change from travelling across northern Ontario on business trips and wanting to spend more time with his family, Gary purchased Metallo’s Mini Mart in 2002 from Ezio Metallo.

“I think this store is my connection to the city in many ways. I get to meet different people I wouldn’t normally get the chance to meet. Almost every day I meet a new person. It’s very gratifying to me that I’ve been able to make a living doing what I enjoy, which is meeting people, talking to people, helping people. Those are the things that really make it happen for me.”