Anna "Ma Zott"

The Zott family bar on Van Dyke, Center Line, Michigan

In 1928, Joseph and Anna made a massive financial move by selling off a large farm property at the southeast corner of 12 Mile Road and Hoover Road. They used the substantial liquidation proceeds to transition from full-time field farming into commercial enterprise.

Following the sale of the farm, they reinvested a heavy portion of their capital directly into downtown Center Line commercial land:Center Line Recreation: In 1928, he purchased a plot of land and built a prominent commercial building located between Wiegand Blvd. and Engleman Road, directly across the street from the old St. Clement Catholic Church.The Footprint: This property housed a state-of-the-art 10-lane bowling alley alongside a popular bar and grill. Operated famously by your great-grandmother, this property became an iconic community fixture known locally for decades as “Ma Zott’s”.