To generations of Bridgeport residents, she is simply Maria. But to those who know the history of one of Chicago’s most enduring hospitality figures, Maria Marszewski represents a six-decade arc of resilience, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood transformation. From her arrival in the United States to her role as the matriarch of a thriving culinary destination, her life has been defined by a quiet, persistent ambition that shaped the South Side landscape.
Born Kim Yong Soon in Pusan—now known as Busan—on Feb. 7, 1937, she navigated a path that led her from South Korea to the industrial grit and community warmth of Chicago in 1966. Having married James Marszewski two years prior, she began her life in the city as a licensed beautician, eventually operating a home-based salon in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood. It was the beginning of a career marked by the ability to pivot when circumstances demanded it, a trait that would soon be tested by tragedy.
Maria Marszewski remains a foundational figure in the local restaurant and tavern scene, often referred to as the Duchess of Bridgeport. Her journey from a young immigrant mother to the owner of a landmark establishment, Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar, offers a window into the evolving identity of the city’s South Side. Today, her legacy continues through the work of her sons, who have expanded the family’s influence into the realms of craft brewing and creative dining.
From Mount Greenwood to Bridgeport: A Path of Reinvention
The trajectory of Maria’s professional life shifted sharply in 1979 following the death of her husband, James, at age 39. Left to raise their two sons alone, she took over his business, Jim’s 31st Street Inn in Little Village. It was a formative, albeit brief, tenure that solidified her identity as an operator. She would later leverage her success into real estate, including the acquisition of a strip mall in Bridgeview—an area now recognized as Little Palestine—where she once operated a restaurant known as House of Kim.
The House of Kim was, by all accounts, a singular enterprise. It served a mix of Korean and Japanese cuisine, featuring a sushi bar, tea rooms, and, in a nod to American steakhouse culture, prime rib. Her younger son, Ed Marszewski, recalls the eccentricities of the space, including a pond populated by a turtle named Gamera, a nod to the Japanese monster film franchise. This period of her life demonstrated a willingness to blend cultural traditions with local tastes, a philosophy that would later become a hallmark of the family’s business in Bridgeport.
In 1986, Maria purchased the building at 960 W. 31st St., a site that had housed Kaplan’s Liquors since 1939. By taking over the space, she established a foothold in a neighborhood that was undergoing its own gradual transition. For decades, the location served the local community as a traditional packaged goods store and bar, eventually becoming the namesake for the institution it is today.
Maria Marszewski and her son Ed Marszewski at Maria’s Packaged Goods and Community Bar in Bridgeport on May 7, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/)
The Evolution of Maria’s Packaged Goods
By 2010, the business was ready for its next iteration. Maria passed the reins to her sons, Mike and Ed, who transformed the space into the modern iteration of Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar. While the name honors their mother, the business serves as a cultural hub, bridging the gap between the old-school Bridgeport tavern and the modern craft beer movement. Ed Marszewski, who serves as the president of Marz Community Brewing and the founding director of the Public Media Institute, helped steer this evolution, ensuring the venue remained a reflection of the family’s values.
The bar’s success is anchored by a unique culinary partnership. The signature “Korean Polish” (KoPo) sausage, developed by chef Won Kim, is a staple of the attached restaurant, Kimski. The dish—a sausage topped with house-made seasonal kimchi, soju mustard, and scallions on a brioche bun—epitomizes the cross-cultural synthesis that the Marszewski family has championed in the neighborhood for years. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Kimski, a milestone that underscores the long-term impact of their business model.
Key Business Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Maria takes over Jim’s 31st Street Inn. |
| 1986 | Maria purchases the Bridgeport building (formerly Kaplan’s). |
| 2010 | The space is rebranded as Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar. |
| 2014 | Kimski opens, introducing the KoPo sausage to the neighborhood. |
| 2018 | Marz Community Brewing is co-founded by Ed Marszewski. |
Wisdom from the Duchess of Bridgeport
Despite her retirement from the day-to-day operations of the business, Maria remains a constant presence at the bar, typically visiting from Thursday through Sunday. Her role has shifted from owner to matriarch, a title she holds with characteristic pragmatism. When asked about her advice for the next generation of business owners, her response is characteristically grounded: “In order to run a good business, do not drink too much.”
It is a piece of advice that aligns with her own lifestyle; Maria has never consumed alcohol, preferring instead the simplicity of hot black tea or coffee. This disciplined approach to life and business is perhaps the most significant factor in her longevity. Looking back on her career, she cites the ability to provide for and educate her children through her own entrepreneurial efforts as her most memorable achievement.
As the neighborhood continues to change, Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar remains a fixed point on 31st Street. The business continues to operate with the same commitment to local community engagement that Maria established four decades ago. For those interested in visiting or learning more about the current offerings at the bar, official information is maintained at community-bar.com.
The story of Maria Marszewski is not just one of a successful business owner, but of a woman who navigated the complexities of immigration and loss to build a lasting legacy in Chicago. As she continues to spend her weekends at the bar, her influence remains a quiet but powerful force in the Bridgeport community. We invite our readers to share their memories of Maria’s in the comments below.
