His dream of coming to the USA came true in 1955. He returned to Cuba only to marry the love of his life, the late Maria Carmen Banos Artime. They made their home in Atlanta, Georgia, where Mario was employed by the Colonial Bread Company. He remained there for 10 years and worked other jobs on his days off. In 1965, 10 years after arriving in the U.S., he opened his first grocery store, Artime’s Market. A few years later, he opened a second store in midtown Atlanta. He quickly became a fixture in the area and was loved by his customers.
Mario and Maria had 3 sons: the late Dr. Mario J. Artime, Henry E. Artime (Kimberly) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Joseph M. Artime (Ann Marie) of St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Mario and Maria did what they loved most, and travelled half the world before Mario’s retirement in 1995 and completed the other half after his retirement, until Maria’s passing in 2011.
Mario was the 5th of 6 children and is survived by his younger sister, Ofelia Artime Montejo. He had 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.