Nick DeVitis' preparation to one day run his family business started when he was 14, dusting and stocking shelves at DeVitis Italian Market in Akron's North Hill. Now, he's the fourth-generation, sole owner of the popular market after his aunt, Laura DeVitis, and uncle, Tony DeVitis, passed the ownership torch Dec. 31.

Nick worked at the store full time in high school during the summers and arranged his college class schedule around working at the store as a young adult. Over the decades, Nick, 41, learned from the best, including the example set by his grandpa, Angelo, and the training he received from his father, Robert, and his aunt and uncles. Uncle David, who is Robert's twin, retired in 2014 and Robert retired in 2020.