Three years ago, Diane Mazzilli-Grey and her husband Rick Grey said an emotional goodbye to their family business. After 26 years of running their farm stand — they were ready for retirement.

But they just couldn’t stay away. 

On Saturday, April 12 after two years of renovations and a new owner that didn't work out — the bright green building at 3134 Cranberry Highway opened its doors again with Diane and Rick at the helm. 

Mazzilli-Grey has had the store in her family since 1976, taking ownership from her father and brothers. After losing several family members, she said she wanted to be around people and that she missed the hustle and bustle. 

"It's the laughter, the fun and customers," she said. 'We are so close to many of our customers — they were hugging us and everything."

With new floors, new ideas and a refurbished countertop the re-opening was emotional, she said. The register counter holds significance — reclaimed from the original Mazzilli's building that was tore down in 1988. Mazzilli-Grey's husband re-stained them and stabilized the aging wood.

Mazzilli-Grey brings many more familial aspects to her work — like her mother's cooking and her father's handiness. 

"We just want to have fun with it," she said. "Life is short. You start losing your parents and your brothers — I used to bring my father here in his wheelchair. So it was hard to sell the building."

Mazzilli-Grey said the response has been great since re-opening. On Easter the couple saw dozens of familiar and new faces excited the business was back. 

"People used to say this was the fun store. You ever go into a store and you love walking around? That's what we want this to be again," she said. 

The couple tries to source everything locally if they can't produce it themselves. Owning a farm with greenhouses — she said there isn't any shortage of things to do. 

Yet, Mazzilli-Grey said she's happy to get back to working. They have plans to open a children's section and bring in hanging flowers and plants. 

"We want to come back because we want to, not because we have to," she said. 

Mazzilli said she hopes her father is looking down at her proud

"I think I'm just going to go as long as my body goes," she said. "I've got two new knees — there's nothing I can't do. We don't have any kids so I guess I just have to live forever."