Dear Z. G. Gabriel,

Hello, how are you? I was so thrilled to see the article in the Pittsburgh Press about your family run businesses, and what a success they are. I have wanted to get in touch with you for years, but had no idea how to contact you until the newspaper article.

Let me reintroduce myself, my name in Anna Kruppa and I currently live in Bentlyville, PA. I do not know if you will remember me, but I wanted to send a letter of sincere thanks and appreciation. I would also like to share a few remembrances.

I first met you on Smokey Road in Briar Hill, Pa, where I happened to be one of your privileged customers in the late 1920s! You were so kind to travel down that bumpy road in your “Green Truck” and visit us. Back then we had no cars or means of public transportation, and we all had to stay home with our children. I do not know if you realized how much of a service you were to the entire “patch”, and how much you were valued.

In particular I recall how you would do special favors for me. In Briar Hill you would kindly hid material I had selected and purchased from other customers in the area. Eliminating any possibility that others would have a dress like mine. Your help in hiding material always let me ‘create’ originals.

In the Forties, I traveled to your Uniontown store. It was a time of rationing and limited selection, and any items of a frivolous nature were difficult and expensive to acquire. One day when I arrived you led me to a secret room which was under lock and key. The room had a wonderful selection of notions. I picked out bric-a-brac, laces, buttons, and trims! When I finished shopping and was paying for my goods, the other customers were all left baffled (and jealous). They could not solve the mystery of how I had found all those special items. It was my secret, and so kind at the time to remember your old customer from Briar Hill.

It has been quite a while, and I hope this letter will reach you. I hope you are well. I am fine and will be celebrating by 85th birthday in July. My whole family of four generations, many of whom reside in the Western Pa. area still appreciate the great prices and service. In fact even my granddaughters travel from Manhattan to visit me, and of course Gabriel’s. We are all faithful customers of your son’s stores.

A Happy Customer of 60 Years
Sincerely,

Anna Kruppa”