Big John’s Market 1345 Healdsburg Avenue • Healdsburg • 433-7151 • www.bigjohnsmarket.com
Ready to celebrate 25 years with their favorite customers
im and John Lloyd are celebrating 25 years in business this October at their Big John’s Market. Like all businesses that continue to prosper past their challenging startup phase, looking back offers mixed memories of trials and errors, sustaining friendships, awards and accomplishments, personal satisfactions and maybe a few “woulda, coulda, shoulda’s.” The Lloyds ventured north to Healdsburg in 1994 from previous non-grocery careers in southern California. “We went as far north as we could where there was still a good economy to serve,” remembers John about those days full of a lingering recession. “A lot could have gone wrong, but it didn’t.” That’s officially an understatement by John because Big John’s Market is one of the Healdsburg community’s greatest business success stories. The store sits at one of Healdsburg’s busiest intersections at Healdsburg Avenue and Dry Creek Road. (The Lloyds own the Dry Creek Center and adjoining property.) The building and grocery selections have been totally modernized and expanded through multiple construction projects and improvements. The Lloyds and their market also have become welcomed as business community leaders, prime supportesr of countless charities, schools and nonprofits and a large
K
page 6 • Progress 2018
employer, with over 95 employees. “I think it was a case of doing the right thing and at the right time,” said Kim about their decision to move north 25 years ago. “We started with a business plan that really didn’t allow for any room for failure, so we had to be successful.” The early years were the most challenging as the Lloyds installed a new roof and all new equipment to the former Vadnais Deluxe Foods and set out to make new friends in their new community. “The progress was slow at first. We just listened a lot to what people wanted and what was important to them,” said Kim. “That’s what we’ve always done; that’s what we’re still doing.” What thrills Kim these days is hearing her customers call the store “my store,” as if they were owners and not just customers. Asked when they stopped considering themselves newcomers, the Lloyds said they never thought about themselves in those terms. When asked if they’ve now become old-timers, Kim said, “why not, but I’m not sure the real old-timers would agree.” One measure of stature, success and longevity could be how many people continue to seek the Lloyd’s advice about business strategies and how to get better invovled and help in the Healdsburg community. Between Kim and John, they have served on
the local animal shelter, health care foundation and local education foundation boards of directors, among other activites including with the chamber of commerce, Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair, Council on Aging and more. Back at the store, Big John’s Market is one of the area’s premium independent grocery businesses, offering full selections of local products, organic selections and large butcher, seafood, deli, cheese and prepared food sections. The expanded store features a Costeaux Bakery counter and a burrito and pizza bar that is due to be expanded. The large wine selection features many smaller local wineries, often available only on restaurant lists. Stephen Bardessono is Big John’s Market store director. Key department managers include Jessica Powers, meat department; Kate O’Donnell, cheese department; Tina Salvadori, assistant cheese department manager; Karen Brock, kitchen manager; Cass Nall, assistant kitchen manager; Lauris Leon, assistant deli manager; John Pardini, produce manager; Ana Patino Rodriguez, assistant produce manager; Scott Levie, Rocio Mercardo, Leo Medrano and Oscar Mercado, grocery department. Allen Fox and Angelica Mercado de Medina are the store’s front end managers; Lily Avila, scan coordinator; and Manuel Bracamonte, receiver.