City Honors 40 Years of Park West Gallery

Published June 18, 2009
 By JENNIE MILLER, C & G Staff Writer | Southfield Sun

SOUTHFIELD – Driving southbound on Northwestern Highway into the city of Southfield years ago, City Councilman Myron Frasier was overwhelmed as he came upon the sight of Park West Gallery. “Now that’s what a building ought to look like,” Frasier said June 15, recalling the memory of first spotting the 63, 000-square-foot gallery, a Greco-Roman structure with towering columns designed in 1979.

“It was just really great (to see), and it still is,” said Frasier as the city celebrated Park West Gallery Day June 15 in recognition of the company’s 40 years of operation in Southfield, dating back even further than its awe-inspiring facility to 1969 with its first location on Nine Mile Road.

Founded by Albert Scaglione, Park West is now one of the largest art dealers in the world, selling works of art through its galleries in Michigan and Florida, as well as on cruise ships internationally.

“We are proud to be the home town of this internationally respected business celebrating its 40th year,” said Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, who thanked Scaglione and his wife, Mitsie, for their “loyalty and outstanding contributions to this city.” The Scagliones have also been active in the region through the establishment of the Park West Foundation, which provides support to young people who have been aged out of the foster care system.

Proud of the honor bestowed upon him and his company, Scaglione thanked the city for its support.

“It’s very gratifying,” he said. “It’s been a long journey for me here in Southfield. I’ve been in the city for a long time, and it’s great to be recognized in this way.” He said it’s been a pleasure to work with the city and the community over the last four decades.

“The city has been terrific,” Scaglione said. “It’s a great place for us to build our homes (and) build our businesses. I think one of the best things about this (region) is the work ethic. (And) we have a great mixed population. We have all different kinds of ethnic groups. (It is) a melting pot of a very high-quality talent pool.” As he enters his own 70th year of life, Scaglione isn’t sure what the future holds for his company, which he admits is seeing diminished sales in this struggling economy, but he hopes Park West will go on.

“We’ll probably do this until we aren’t around to do it anymore,” Scaglione said, adding that he and Mitsie have five children who work in the family business. “We can work together – it’s a privilege; it’s a pleasure; it’s an honor. I know we’re in a tough time, but we just hope we can keep going the way we have been.

We’re seeing mild improvements, and I hope that continues. I’m hopeful that the recovery has quietly begun, and we are starting to see that.” Scaglione planned to host a celebration for gallery staff this week complete with pizza and wings to commemorate the occasion.

“I’m very close to the staff here; some of them have been here 25-30 years,” he said.

As cause for further celebration, Albert and Mitsie Scaglione plan to renew their marriage vows on his birthday, July 4.

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Left to right: Southfield Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence, Mitsie and Albert Scaglione, Southfield Council President Donald F. Fracassi