Betterton dedicates late restaurant owner with bench in his honor

BETTERTON — While Betterton Day was in full swing, Saturday, Aug. 3, up the hill a bench was dedicated to the late Francis Marzella, restaurant owner for over 52 years.

His wife, Maureen and their son, Michael, christened the bench, situated near the Betterton Volunteer fire house, and across from their restaurant, Marzella’s By the Bay.

Almost 50 people came out to pay their honors to Francis. Leading the dedication was Dick Story, a close friend.

Francis died in the early hours, Tuesday, March 19, after putting in a shift at the restaurant. He worked hard, but also in these years here, he enjoyed the slower paced lifestyle of Kent County, specifically in Betterton.

His son coming in from California, told the Kent County News, this was just the place for his parents after decades of serving students at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. There, the demand never stopped. Alumnus have fond memories of eating at his establishment.

During the bench ceremony, under the shade of a maple, Maureen recalled with humor the time they discovered Betterton.

They were being shown real estate in Kent County when they came across the road sign pointing to the town.

At first sight, Maureen knew right away that old firehouse was special.

“We saw it, and I wanted it, and I was surprised my husband didn’t shoot it down. He said if we can get it at a reasonable price, you got it. And you know what ... I never want to leave.”

Michael thanked all the people for coming out to honor his father.

“This community has been wonderful to my parents, and it’s been a great place to spend their retirement years.”

Maureen added some background. When Francis and Maureen purchased the firehouse in 2002, they just so happened to have a worker who got accepted into Delaware State, training as an airplane pilot.

He needed a place nearby to stay and needed a job. Not only did the old firehouse work for that, it helped eventually develop Marzella’s by the Bay, opening it for business on weekends.

That place eventually drew the owners in 2013, as Kent County tends to do, with the loveliness found on the Eastern Shore.

Francis and Maureen moved from college town to beach town in 2013, where they’ve ingratiated themselves to the community ever since.

Nothing explains any better their dedication to the town than a message from the Betterton Volunteer Fire Department during an emergency in January 2019.

“On behalf of the Betterton Vol. Fire Company members, I would like to thank Frank and Maureen Marzella for getting up and opening their business 2 a.m. this morning during the major Apartment building fire that Betterton Vol. Fire company had. Mr. and Mrs. Marzella fed over 45 Firefighters with pizza, sandwiches, and coffee and then stayed open the rest of the day serving all the customers that dine there everyday.”

From Francis and Maureen’s early start as restaurant owners, they’ve showed that kind of dedication to their community.

It’s what they’ve done ever since 1960, when they sold a one-size, 12-inch pizza for $1.25 each, at a pizza shop in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. The first location had only two tables.

After a decade they moved to 488 Main St. across from Ursinus College, quickly building a legacy, where they extended their menu.

Always adapting, they expanded, shipping their products nationwide because Ursinus College alumni couldn’t shake those indelible memories and savory dishes from their college years.

Then in 2013, the couple approaching their 70s, longing for a quieter life, moved to Howell Point Road, in Betterton, deeming the restaurant, Marzella’s by the Bay.

There they had the freedom to reduce their hours, and meet the ever-growing demand for their delicious strombolis.

The family atmosphere, warmth and witty, whimsical stories from Maureen combined with Francis’ tradition of excellent food continues to this day.

That was evident with the amount of support at the bench ceremony. Story said it didn’t take long to find a way to pay for the bench, the plaque and fly Michael in from California.

“This is really so nice,” Maureen said, overwhelmed by the attentiveness.

Story said that they’d be honored for Maureen to christen the bench, the first “sit.”

With a smile, and a slow shake of her head, Maureen pointed out that technically that wasn’t true. She wasn’t the first. Earlier she saw some cute little boys sitting on it.

Which she said was all right too.

Francis probably would have wanted it that way, she replied. She added that as much as the community misses her husband, she misses him even more.

Marzella’s continue to serve great food. They’re open from Tuesday to Sunday, offering pizza, hearty sandwiches and more.

The bench, like Marzella’s, is open for business as well, Story announced.