the marks family immigrated from greece in the late 19th or early 20th century. although adhering to romani cultures and beliefs, like the payment of dowries and arranged marriages, they also worked to assimilate into american life. in an interview with mcmahon, rose marks said her father was steve "boyo" eli, a land owner and romani judge. according to marks, he mediated land, inheritance, divorce and dowry disputes in the gypsy community near newark, new jersey. marks attended public school until she dropped out in the third grade. she was married in an arranged marriage at 16 or 17 years old, living in virginia until moving to broward county in 1998. marks and her late husband opened the store in manhattan.