Mutz's candy store

I wonder how many people recall the original Mutz's Confectionery store. The Mutz Legend began in a small store front in the 600 block of Bleecker Street on Utica's East Side. The store was located adjacent to the DeRosa Hall building and Mutz's was in the same building as Stati's Shoe repair shop, later the show repair shop was taken over by John D'Amore. The candy store was owned by Amadeo (Mutz) D'Accurzio. You could say that it was a penny candy store because prices were very LOW. Oh, Boy chewing gum sold two sticks for one penny and they were very long. Oh, boy, you got your money's worth; Mary Jane's candy was another favorite and, which was to be my later addiction, delicious ice cream. Money was not generally available for kids for discretionary expenditures such, (God forbid) to purchase candy. I used to help the Borden's milk man and he's give me one or two pennies for my help. Son-of-gun, as I recall now, he used me to deliver milk bottles to the third and fourth floors of neighborhood houses. But I was a kid and I relished the one or two pennies the milkman would give me for my help. And, yes, I would splurge buying candy at Mutz's candy store. He used the milk wagon which was pulled by a horse. And I loved the procedure where the horse would lug the milk wagon from house to house when the milk person would walk to the wagon. The horse knew that it had to move on to the next house which he did automatically. In winter time, Borden's used a sleigh with a lot of space, to deliver milk bottles. Alas, that scene has disappeared. No more milk men dot the neighborhood scenes. But I digress. The small candy store (mutz's) was next to the De Rosa hall until, I'd guess the early forties when Grandfather D'Accurzio moved to another location at the corner of Mohawk and Bleecker. At this location, Mutz's Confectionery became a breakfast and luncheon spot were meals with prepared with TLC (Tender, Love and Care), delicious breakfasts, and wwhere they also sold newspapers and novelties. This location was later taken over by son, Al D'Accurzio, one of the nicest male persons the Good Lord ever put on the face of this earth, assisted by his wife, by his mother and other family members. The place became a Utica landmark. I'm still searching for another candy store. But I'll never forget that little,tiny candy store on the 600 block of Bleecker Street.