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Susan Zanino Corleto

Savory and Sweet on Mill Street

by Cate Murway

"Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you can move mountains."

A mustard seed has a remarkable growth potential, budding into quite a large plant compared to the size of the seed. Quite functional, the seeds can be ground to make mustard, a truly favorite and delicious condiment and the leaves, like collard greens, can be eaten as a source for wonderful life sustaining nutrients. So, here it is, this very hardy and resilient little seed becomes something that is so useful. It doesn't think about growing into a mustard plant or ponder how it is going to go about it.

It just is and does what it was created to do.

The "Sweet Mustard Seed" shoppe will be a unique blend of savory and sweet offerings, inspired by Susan Marie Zanino Corleto’s insistence on both excellence and beauty. She seems both realistic and practical in her approach to business matters as she zealously labors at the many much-needed renovations, including painting the floors and the walls.

This is a mile marker: the start of another new venture in her life. She is facing it with a big smile and an energy of excitement.

Susan was widowed with three young daughters at a very young age and working as a receptionist at her friend, Gay’s dance studio. Her 35 year-old husband was killed in a three-wheel all-terrain vehicle accident. Those vehicles were involved in so many rollover accidents and injuries that ATV manufacturers stopped producing them in 1987, but unfortunately they still owned one.

Then she was introduced to DJ Steven Joseph Trunk-Corleto at her boss’ wedding. She knew the night she met him on 4.3.93 that they would be together.

“Fill my heart with gladness

Take away all my sadness

Ease my troubles, that’s what you do.”

Steve still DJ’s for families and friends with his “Movers and Shakers” but his main business is Steve’s Tees on Mill Street. He has been in the screen printing and promotional product industry for 20 years, offering expertise, on-site production (including artwork and digitizing), and on-time delivery.

“People don’t realize the depth and quality of Steve’s character. He was crazy enough to marry a woman with three kids”, shared Mrs. Corleto.

“Have I told you lately that I love you

Have I told you that there’s no one else above you?”

They have four children now.

Misty and her husband Jeremy LeCompte who will be making them grandparents in November, Bristol resident Sheena Weygand; and Destinee Weygand and Steven Wayne Trunk-Corleto who reside with them in Langhorne.

All the children will be helping with the Sweet Mustard Seed business.

The “faith of a mustard seed” is embedded in them always. They posted a bulletin advertisement for a home in the Yardley/Newtown area at their church, the Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia on Philmont Avenue. Within a week, a fellow congregant suggested one in the Langhorne area. They reside there today.

“There’s a love that’s divine and it’s yours and it’s mine.”

Susan and Steve have a tenacious commitment plan to stand as a lasting testament to the quality and authenticity of a bygone era. They are on the bandwagon of ensuring Mill Street successful ventures again.

They are locating their “Sweet Mustard Seed” in “Richie’s [Vallejo] building”, the very first building they toured in historic Bristol on the Delaware when they were deciding on a site for his Steve’s Tees, Awards and DeSigns that is now located on 207 Mill Street.

Susan expects to open “sometime this summer”.

Their well-stocked shop will feature the full range of “Sweet Mustard Seed” acclaimed yellow and brown mustards, as well as homemade bakery products, locally-produced handcrafted greeting cards, bulk candies and full service deli counter foods.

"Got Mustard?" You bet! Stimulate your taste buds! Susan will offer their private label unique gourmet mustard that preserves the volatile taste qualities of the whole seeds, natural herbs and spices. Choose from an assortment of exciting flavors including chocolate champagne and garlic varieties.

They aim to have something for everyone, traditional, vegetarian, vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free! Susan is looking into making Kosher meat selections available also.

Satisfy your sweet tooth. Whether you’re stocking up for birthday parties, holidays or just the office candy dish, bulk candy by the pound is perfect! You can refill your stash at work, and still leave some at home. Selections will include the original fun bites invented during the Spanish Civil War, chocolate M&M'S® [named after the surnames of the company founders Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie] and classic fresh jellybeans. Check out the sugar free varieties.

In an effort to be “eco friendly”, plus the fact that it is much more “eco-nomical”, Sweet Mustard Seed is being created using previously used equipment and fixtures!

Accompaniment will be the iPod playing welcoming “maybe B101 music”.

Join them! Jump-start your day with croissants and muffins and a mug of steamy coffee for your morning routine.

“For the morning sun in all its glory

Greets the day with hope and comfort too.”

Energizing lunch choices can be simple but delightful. The cold case will entice you with fresh selections of tried and true recipes of potato salad, pasta salad, and cole slow, just the thing to complete your outdoor/ picnic dining. Choose to eat inside? Enjoy your traditional deli sandwiches or specialty grilled hot mozzarella cheese, tomato and fresh basil Italian panini sandwich at the tables and chairs arranged by the front window.

Susan is going to make an attempt to harvest her own fresh basil and chives in that charming front window.

They take pride in their products and they will be offering unforgettable baked goods from NY and hand rolled Italian stick bread. Delicious homemade Mediterranean delicacies will be available, including no preservative pasta made fresh by a local purveyor of goods, Roma Italian Specialties, using the best natural ingredients and 100% deluxe semolina flour. You’ll rave about the ravioli- some choices include lobster, crab or baby organic spinach ravioli. The homemade marinara sauce is heavenly!

The Corleto family is full of dreams and plans.

Welcome to a place at their table.

See you this Summer!

Sweet Mustard Seed

307 Mill Street

Bristol, PA 19007

215.788.1234

www.sweetmustardseed.com

[Visitors can sign up for their email list or follow them on facebook]

Mon - Sat: 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sun: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Italicized song lyrics from a favorite “Have I told you lately that I love you?”