One of the Jensen’s Stores that changed hands recently is now called Running Springs Fine Foods. Rumors abounded before the store opened. “They’ll fire all of you” (to the employees). “They’ll raise all the prices.” After the few hours it took to transition from Jensen’s to Running Springs Fine Foods, everyone breathed a sign of relief. The employees stayed the same. The groceries they stocked remained the same—same butcher, same meats, same dips prepared by the ladies who made them under the Jensen’s label. The Jensen’s store sold Thrifty ice cream hand scooped with the familiar scooper—and the rebranded store still does.
The manager/part owner of the store is a charming young Syrian immigrant named Fadi Sukaria. From 2000-2017, he waited expectantly to be able to come to the United States “to build a good future,” he explained. He was halfway through a college education in Syria, working toward a degree in petroleum engineering, when the opportunity to emigrate arose. Syria does not actually have any petroleum resources, he noted, so his future in the field was not bright in his native country. War-torn Syria has suffered greatly in recent years, and life has been especially hard for the Christian population of which Fadi’s family is part. Fadi and his family immigrated legally to the US and can come and go freely. In fact he returned to Syria recently, married, and came back with his new bride.
The only changes to the market have been positive ones, such as attempting to provide new food items that customers asked them to carry. They also expanded their liquor offerings. When questioned about that, Fadi explained that people come from all over the world to Running Springs and many are celebrating special events. An expensive or unusual bottle of liquor can be part of their celebration, and he is happy to make that available to them.
The ”Big Boss” of the recently acquired Jensen’s markets is Fadi’s uncle (his aunt’s husband). When he first came to the US, Fadi worked in one of the two gas stations owned by this enterprising family member in Frazier Park. In preparation for a transition to marketing food and dealing with lots of customers and employees instead of one at a time at an ARCO station, he worked for his uncle in one of the markets he owns in Frazier Park for one year. The uncle also owns markets in Bishop and Idyllwild.
“We love the mountains,” Fadi declared emphatically. The newly-acquired markets are located in Running Springs, Cedar Glen, and the biggest one in Wrightwood. The Running Springs store opened Memorial Day weekend, and the transition was made in about half a day, Fadi explained. It didn’t take long for the employees to relax and carry on as usual. The only remaining issue is the Dollar General Store next door that is also under the umbrella of the new ownership. It is still in the process of being made operational.
“He’s the best I’ve ever worked with. We love him!” declared Debbie, a smiling crew member. “From day one!” she added for emphasis. Fadi said sincerely that he is kind to employees and customers. Ruth Broadfoot has been with the store for 33 years, starting to work there before it was Jensen’s. She started in 1990 with the second owners of the store and stayed on when Jensen’s bought it in 1998. (She also knew Cleo and Leo, the original Stater Brothers that started the grocery chain, and she worked at Goodwin’s from 1986-1990.) “He is dedicated to the community,” Ruth said approvingly of her new boss.
Fadi stocks what customers request as quickly as he can and makes an extra effort to restock items when the supply runs out. Prices fluctuate widely, and Fadi carefully monitors invoices. The prices of eggs and produce have been especially volatile in the last few years, and one time the price of sliced beef suddenly went up $5 per pound. “If we raised the price that much,” Fadi said, “people would think we were cheating them.” They just had to raise it a moderate amount—and hope the price would go back down soon. They have had frequent requests for organic food items, and they have added those items as well.
Running Springs residents and visitors alike can rest assured that their local grocery store is in good hands. Fadi is building the future he envisioned in the United States, and his fellow citizens have made a smooth transition to new ownership of their local grocery store.
