Jeff Hansen purchased the Grocery Outlet in Lakeport about a dozen years ago, but he spent a solid chunk of his life in the business. Except for a decade long stint in law enforcemnt, he has worked the aisles, the counters and the offices for grocery stores since 1977. His career has taken him to Nevada, Idaho, Arizona (where he opened the first nine Albertsons in the state) and Texas. He has worked for corporate chains and independent operations in big cities and small towns. Since taking over in Lakeport, however, he is enjoying the settled life.
1: Running a grocery store isn”t something you normally study for in school.
I started when I was 15 at an Albertsons in Nevada. I did everything from bagger to stocking shelves to produce. We bought our store 13 years ago.
2: What the worst of those jobs?
Working for a corporation. It”s not as rewarding. We can help out local charities and events going on in town. They worry more about business than the community. Here we can reinvest in the community.
3: So there are rewards to running an independent store?
Oh, yeah. This is fun.
4: What”s so interesting about it?
It”s different every day. You get to meet a lot of people. On the other hand, it is a seven day job.
5: So in your spare time … ?
We find stuff to do. We like to grow flowers. We watch NASCAR. We go the races in Vegas. We go see a Chicago Bears game every year.
6: The Bears? Not the 49ers?
I”ve been a Bears fan since I was a kid. Since our daughter is the manager we can go to games. The first three times we went to see the Bears, they happened to be playing the 49ers. We”re in Chicago and people ask where we”re from. ”Oh, just a few hours from them.”
7: You”ve run stores in cities. What”s it like in a smaller town?
I love it. My wife is my partner. Our daughter is the manager. Our grandkids have worked for us.
8: They say in a small town everyone knows everyone else.
There are advantages to that. If my grandson gets in trouble, I hear about it before he can tell me.
9: So after being around food all day are you even hungry at night?
That is a good question. We”ll get home and sit around and say ”what do you want to eat?” ”Oh, I don”t know.” The last thing you want to do is cook.
10: How far away have you found your carts?
I found one by Rodman Slough. I got my truck and went back and loaded it up. They are expensive.
