How long have you been in business?
I’ve been in the grocery business since 1988, and have been open here in Point Loma since 2016.

What do you love most about what you do?
The customers and employees I get to interact with on a daily basis.

Tell us about a moment when you knew you chose the right career.
Ever since I was a bagger when I was 15 I knew I was in a field I love.

What’s a memorable experience you’ve had with a customer or client?
It happens very often. I will see and overhear the happiness of one customer seeing one of their friends or neighbors in the store. The feeling of community is so strong and I am so proud to be part of it.

Which part of your job will AI never be able to do?
Smile and sincerely thank your customer.

What makes your work environment somewhere you enjoy being?
I love interesting foods. Being around others who have a passion for fresh and interesting foods makes me very happy.

What’s your favorite object or item in your workspace — and what’s the story behind it?
The collage of photos that the Point Loma community submitted on the wall to your right as you enter Jensen’s. I had this idea to honor my best friend’s dad, who had recently passed and was a career Navy submariner with a photo of him getting a Navy commendation. I thought, “What if I asked the community to be part of that idea and submit their favorite photos?”

What do you have in your workspace that sparks creativity?
Our signs state that the checkout lane is closed. Instead of the usual “CHECKSTAND CLOSED, PLEASE USE OTHER LANE” We have “Gone Surfing”, “Gone Fishing”, “Gone Sailing”, etc.

What’s your go-to music while you work?
We really mix it up. My wine and spirits buyer is in charge of the playlists. It’s very eclectic - from R & B, to classic rock, The Beatles, Tom Petty, Motown and many more. It changes almost every day.

What’s your favorite local spot for a client lunch?
I love the Bali Hai and the views from there. Whoever I take there is always in awe. No mai tais at lunch, though!

What other local clubs or associations do you belong to besides the PLA?
I am a member of the Optimist Club.

What’s a local business that’s gone away that you’d love to bring back?
Cabrillo Pharmacy right next to us!

What’s something interesting, fun, or unique about you or your business that might surprise us?
We serve over 1500 customers per day!

What did you want to be when you grew up — and if it’s not what you do now, why did you give up on that?
I always loved writing, but somehow chose business instead. I still write a weekly blog for a grocery marketing company that I consult with (DWGreen.com). When Covid reared its ugly head, I regularly wrote updates on Nextdoor that concerned the community and the grocery business. The feedback I received from doing that was very gratifying.

What’s a fun or interesting skill or talent you have outside of work?
I can fix most anything at my house that breaks. My wife is very appreciative of that.

Do you have a favorite quote or motto that inspires you?
“What goes around comes around.” We are in the people business, and consistently doing the right thing for our customers will pay off over time. Cheating, skimping or deceiving your customers or employees will eventually lead to your demise.

What was your initial plan to be successful in the Point Loma community?
My business goal was to serve our community in a way that would make us indispensable in the long run. With our management team we refined and evolved that to be our Mission statement:

“Working together to nourish our community, our families and each other.”

Every word in it is intentional and has meaning.