State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte presents the Texas Business Treasure Award to Chuck Toudouze, left, along with his brother Wilson and their father Charles A. Toudouze in April. Courtesy photo

Sitting in their conference room surrounded by their family’s rich history, Chuck and Wilson Toudouze obviously feel at home. Their grandfather, A.C. Toudouze, started the family company in 1913.

Today, the Toudouze brothers work together day in and day out. It shows in their verbal exchanges and similar gestures. Wilson is the gregarious one, while Chuck is quieter one.

“We’ve really had to listen to what our customers want,” said Wilson Toudouze, explaining how their business has survived for almost a century. “Our survival over the years has been due to the individual merchants in the area that have been our lifeblood. People in this area are loyal.”

The brothers’ ability to work together as a family has shown through with Toudouze Market. The company recently celebrated its 95th anniversary in April.

It has been the south and west sides of San Antonio that have sustained the well-known market, said the Toudouze brothers.

The market carries everything from snow cone syrup to piñatas to oriental candy. The Toudouz’s appreciation of the history and culture of San Antonio has served them well.

“We recently earned the Texas Treasure Business Award,” said Wilson Toudouze. “(State Sen.) Leticia Van de Putte came out to the reception for the anniversary at The Institute of Texan Cultures and presented the award to us.”

The award honors businesses that have been in existence in Texas for more than 50 years and have remained committed to the Texas economy and history.

Toudouze Market is steeped in local history. The first store was opened in Casin, a small town about 15 miles south of San Antonio. In 1916, A.C. Toudouze’s brother, Emil, took over operations of the store and moved it to the location on the corner of South Flores and Pleasanton streets.

The market stayed there until 1985, when it was moved to its current location at 800 Buena Vista St.

Though the brothers were raised knowing they had the option to continue the family business, they both say they were never pushed.

“We always knew the opportunity was there,” said Chuck Toudouze. “But we were allowed to explore our interests and decide for ourselves.”

Following their parents’ examples, neither brother has pushed his children into the family business.

“We both have children,” Wilson Toudouze said. “I have two and Chuck has six. Right now, they’re pursuing their own interests. Some of them will come in and work in the summer sometimes, though.”

Entering the reception area, though, the walls show the love of family that is apparent in the business. Old newspaper articles, photos and family artifacts line the walls, and the sense of family is pervasive in the businesslike atmosphere.

The employees laugh and joke with the brothers as if they were all family and the love of the business and its employees seems to keep the company going.

“We only have about 25 employees,” said Chuck Toudouze. “This business is generational. There have been generations of employees. Most of them have a real sense of loyalty when it comes to the company. In fact, a lot of them have contacted us during the anniversary.”

Chuck Toudouze added that the feel of being an independent business has been what’s kept them going all of these years.

“It’s part of the culture of San Antonio to have independent businesses,” Chuck Toudouze said. “You go to other places, and it’s just not that way. We feed into that culture, and it’s made us last.”

Are the brothers ready to celebrate the 100th anniversary?

“With a little bit more time to plan something, we will be,” said Wilson Toudouze said with a smile.