M. Maskas & Sons, a 4th-generation business, to celebrate 100 years in Tarentum

A Tarentum candy shop turned distributor is celebrating 100 sweet years in the borough.

M. Maskas & Sons was founded in 1920 by Matthew Maskas, a Greek immigrant from Chios who came to the United States in search of opportunity.

He found one in chocolate.

“Our great grandfather made his own chocolates and sold them out of the back of his Studebaker when making the company,” said Brian Maskas, a fourth generation owner.

The operation moved out Matthew Maskas’ Tarentum basement and into a four-car garage as demand for his sweets grew.

He and his wife, Mable, then opened up shop along Sixth Avenue at what is now Gatto Harley-Davidson.

They supplied local businesses with numerous treats and operated a walk-in retail location. The business was part of the National Candy Wholesalers Association in the 1940s and ’50s.

The couple eventually gave the company to their sons, Robert, Leroy and Laverne, who moved it to the corner of Seventh Avenue and Wood Street in the 1960s. It’s still there today.

It is currently run by Robert’s son, Randy Maskas, and his two sons, Brian and Nathan .

“I’ve worked with my father for 17 years before he passed it down,” Randy said. “Now I have the privilege to coach my sons (in the business). They’re the ones that brought all the technology to it and have made it grow.

The brothers developed the company’s website as well as its online ordering option, maskasportal.com.

The company services 600 accounts monthly within a 100-mile radius, and offers more than 2,300 products.

Randy said honesty was the biggest thing he taught his boys about life and working in the business.

“You treat people how you want to be treated,” he said.

Both Brian and Nathan graduated from Highlands High School and earned bachelor’s degrees from Robert Morris University.

Brian said one thing that separates the family business from big box stores, besides the personal interaction between owners and customers, is the nostalgic candies.

“The products that we carry are going to be different from what they carry,” he said.

The shop carries Clove and Beeman’s Black Jack gum, Chuckles, Boyer’s Mallo Cups and butterscotch Smoothie cups and much more, all at wholesale prices. There are no sales or coupons.

Other items include tobacco products, cookies and snack foods, sanitary and janitorial supplies as well as institutional canned goods, plates, bowls, cutlery and many more disposable and food service supplies.

Party supplies include piñatas, wristbands, playing cards, raffle tickets and table covers.

Maskas has its own trucks to make deliveries providing the shortest product to market lead-time possible.

Nathan said he enjoys working in the family business, which has strengthened the bond with his brother and father.

They plan to have a customer appreciation event in July to celebrate the 100th anniversary.

“We greatly appreciate all the relationships that we have built, and that has allowed us to develop into the distributor that we are today,” Nathan said. “We can’t thank the community enough for all their support, and we plan to be around for another 100 years.”