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All in the family: While the
fourth generation of Atkinsons’ grocers, Peter (left), Morgan (center)
and Jon (right), have yet to venture into the realm of business,
co-owners Whit and Chip (center back from left), with the help of their
wives, Susie (left) and Monica, are proudly carrying on the tradition
started by their grandfather Chuck in 1956.
50 Years of family
Through five decades and
three generations, Atkinsons’ Market has outlasted competitors large and
small to become Ketchum’s sole surviving grocery store. Rebecca Meany
talks with the family and employees to discover the secrets of this Wood
River Valley institution’s success. Photos by David N. Seelig.
Tom Pyle looked out
his second-floor office window and caught a glimpse of his past. The
general manager of Atkinsons’ Market quickly sized up the scene below:
customers prodding produce, checkers moving items over scanners, baggers
sending groceries out the door—not too bad for a late-summer afternoon.
Pyle’s mind works
fast—not surprisingly, as he has worked in the business, exclusively at
Atkinsons’, for more than 30 years. “I did the same thing then that I’m
doing today,” he said. “Stocking, carryout. Now we have 250 employees,
and I expect them to do the same thing they did when they started:
customer service. When it’s busy, I don’t care what your position is,
you’re here for the people.”
Once in a while, the activity takes him back to his early days with the
store: mountains of glass bottles that needed sorting, a giant cooler
that needed restocking, people’s armfuls of groceries that needed
relieving. Never did it occur to him that he would still be an Atkinsons’
employee into the next century. Never did it occur to many shoppers that
the market, too, would last that long.
The Sun Valley Shopping
Center contained the first Atkinsons’ Market. Defying expectations about
its potential for success, and its ominous opening day of Friday, July
13, 1956, the store is still going strong 50 years later.
In the beginning
Charles “Chuck” Atkinson managed a little general store in 1930s Picabo,
a tiny town southeast of Ketchum. He and his wife, Floss (Flossie), had
moved from Chicago to Idaho to be closer to Flossie’s parents in
Pocatello. Atkinson initially found work building the new resort in Sun
Valley and later owned a small combination grocery store and gas station
in Picabo. In 1942, the Kilpatrick family, who owned Picabo’s general
store, recruited Atkinson to run it.
In the mid-fifties,
the Kilpatricks decided to close the store and divvy up their holdings.
Determined to stay in the business, Chuck enlisted help from George and
Peggy Kneeland and one of the Kilpatrick brothers (“He had always really
liked my grandfather,” said Chip Atkinson) to purchase the Christiania,
a former gambling casino in Ketchum. Poker tables, sitting idle since a
state prohibition on gambling in 1953, were moved aside in favor of cash
registers, and the first Atkinsons’ Market opened its doors in the newly
christened Sun Valley Shopping Center on Friday the 13th of July, 1956.
“Everybody said, ‘Oh, they won’t last a year,’” said Chip. But with the
help of Chuck’s sons, Stan and Don, the store gained a foothold. Cans of
green beans were soon flying off the shelves. Packaged cake mixes,
Swanson TV dinners and Brie cheese jockeyed for room in shoppers’ carts.
Kids pleaded, whined or flashed a cute smile for Dum Dums, Slo-Pokes and
Atomic Fireballs.
Don’s sons, Chip and
Whit, who today own the business, recall childhood experiences in their
after-school playhouse—afternoons spent scurrying through the store and
slipping around corners in the stockroom. “We would come here after
school every day and race around in the six-wheeled carts,” said Whit.
“There were so many hiding spaces in the store. We had a great time.”
The business
continued to expand, and the family sought additional space. “We did
well enough that in 1969 the opportunity presented itself to grow,” said
Chip. A partnership that included Steve Giacobbi and George Hellyer,
Don’s brother-in-law, built Giacobbi Square on East Avenue and Fourth
Street in the heart of Ketchum. The Atkinsons then sold the Sun Valley
Shopping Center and opened up shop a few blocks away in the new square.
Then, as now, the ebb
and flow of business varied with the seasons. “My dad had a graph that
showed sales,” Chip said. “The patterns were so similar. It was the same
year in and year out. December was big. Ski season was good, then it
dropped off.” Business would rise again in the summer. “Even then, there
were lots of second-home owners. The scale of that has changed…it
grew…but the patterns are the same. The growth was steady. It wasn’t
spectacular, but it was steady.”
Destruction leads to expansion
A spark to the roof in 1983 brought business to a halt. The fire spread
quickly throughout the structure and the new store was destroyed. The
market took up temporary residence a block north on East Avenue, where
China Panda restaurant is today. The family also set up a produce tent
in the town plaza. “That was May, and we were open again by Christmas,”
said Chip.
For the Atkinsons,
the disaster was anything but. “It was one of those events that, in
hindsight, was a
blessing in disguise,” said Chip. “We got a bigger store out of it. We
were already starting to see we needed a bigger space, even before
1983.”
This was not the family’s first brush with upheaval.
In 1977, in order to establish a foothold in Hailey, Atkinsons’ took
over the Triple S grocery. They quickly moved to a bigger location, the
Fox Building—now the Hailey Library—and when an expiring lease prompted
yet another move, Don and Stan decided to build specifically to meet the
needs of the Hailey Atkinsons’.
A shopper
peruses the selection of meats at Atkinsons’ in Giacobbi Square, 1969.
Current meat manager, Mike Woodall, says the store keeps a steady supply
of specialty meats and cheeses to satisfy the wishes of the chefs,
organic afficionados and international clientele who shop there.
The brothers owned
land on Main Street and West McKercher Boulevard, which had been bought
with an eye to future business ventures. But plans for Hailey’s
Atkinsons’ to be situated on the north end of town were eventually
abandoned. “The city and county fought so much,” Chip said. A more
central location was finally approved, and Alturas Plaza opened, one
block east of Main Street, in 1993 with Atkinsons’ Market and The Drug
Store as the anchors. Less than 10 years later, the city and county
allowed grocery titan Albertsons to build on the very site the Atkinsons
had initially sought.
In 2003, another expansion opportunity arose when Valley Market in
Bellevue went up for sale. “We saw the growth, and Bellevue has a way to
go, but obviously it seemed right,” said Chip. “Earlier, we never would
have built a store there because it would cannibalize our Hailey store
too much. But since somebody else did it…”
Part of the family’s
secret has been to insulate their business from the vagaries of real
estate. Buying one’s property, Whit said, is “critical.” “You have to
control your destiny. The value of real estate (here) is not based on
reality.” That philosophy, beginning with grandfather Chuck, has allowed
Atkinsons’ to move swiftly when opportunity presented itself.
A family reunited
A few years before Alturas Plaza opened, Whit returned from college and
began to get involved in the business. Their sister, Tory, also came
back and joined the team.
In 1995, Don and Stan
agreed to sell their interest in the business to the three children. “My
kids were doing all the work,” said Don. “They had all the
responsibility. I said, ‘If they’re going to do all that, they should
have all the ownership.’” Having his children work in the business was
no certainty. “I told them they had to work for somebody else before
they could come back here,” said Don. “You can’t just work for your
dad.” Don had an idea Whit would come back into the fold, but he was
less sure about Chip. When Chip told his father of his wishes, “you
could have knocked me over,” said Don. “I said, ‘Come on back.’ I was so
lucky to have all of them back.” Indeed, Don counted on luck rather than
force. “I think my dad always hoped, but he never pushed,” Chip said.
Tory, who managed
personnel, has since left the business, but the brothers continue
operating the three stores jointly. Chip’s wife, Monica, runs The Drug
Store in Hailey, and Whit’s wife, Susie, works in the Ketchum store. “I
think we’re pretty lucky,” Whit said. “We divided the work so it’s not a
problem. We don’t fight to the death. I can’t think of a time when
something didn’t happen because of a disagreement. We’re on the same
page on most things.”
Although Stan died in
the spring of 2006, Don feels the fortune of family all around him.
While Tory lived in California for many years, she has since moved back.
All three children live near their father. “I can throw a rock and hit
Chip’s house,” said Don. “It’s the luckiest thing in the world to have
them all here.”
Keeping intra-brood
peace is one aspect to a successful family business. But the Atkinsons
say making good with the community is another imperative. “It’s real
important to be very generous in what we give back to the community,”
said Chip, who estimates the family gives away a couple hundred thousand
dollars’ worth of cash every year, and tens of thousands more in gifts
of goods. Local charities, including the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, the
Sun Valley Center for the Arts’ Wine Auction and numerous children’s
programs have benefited from the Atkinsons’ support. “That’s the duty of
an independent, family-owned business,” said Whit. “If there’s any
strength to an independent business, it’s that they’re connected to
their community.”
A high-end store?
Over the years the family has dealt with the community’s perception that
their store is high-end. The recent increase in the popularity of health
foods, organics and specialty foods, which cost more than mass-produced,
mainstream foods, have only added fuel to the view that Atkinsons’ is a
pricey place to shop. “The hard part is,” said Chip, “organics have
become a more desirous commodity, as well as specialty foods. Some of
that stuff is more expensive and that doesn’t help the price perception.
Sure there’s a $49.99 bottle of olive oil. But there’s also a $2.19
gallon of milk. We’ve
battled that perception forever.”
Change is coming
Growth throughout the valley brings changes for residents and businesses
alike. An increase in second-home owners, soaring rents due to high
property values and diminished retail activity as year-round residents
move south have led the city of Ketchum to make downtown revitalization
a priority. In the downtown master plan, adopted by the City Council in
September 2006, goals of pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, an enhanced
transportation system and increased affordable housing were set forth.
The ideas of
beautification and incentives for people to live and work downtown
would, in theory, boost Ketchum’s economy and enliven the city core.
“The town is growing so quickly, and we have big plans,” said Ketchum
Mayor Randy Hall. Issues such as parking, congestion and foot traffic
that the city is working on may affect Atkinsons’ future in Giacobbi
Square. “There are some impacts the downtown master plan will have on
Atkinsons’, but as long as it stays where it’s at, we have to learn to
live with each other.”
The Atkinsons, for
their part, believe the downtown is enhanced by their store’s presence
and, at this point, don’t plan to move. “This isn’t the center because
it feels good,” Chip said. “It feels good because this is where all the
activity is. Would this be the core if Atkinsons’ or Jane’s were down at
the Simplot lot? We understand our role, and we understand our role in
the congestion. We’re going to try to address some of the impacts. It’s
time for a facelift. But if we were to move, it would be a disaster.”
From his second-floor
office window, Tom Pyle can’t see the cars darting in and out of parking
spaces, or any of the activity outside. What he can see are reminders of
his career, one that rivals most people’s in length and loyalty.
“People say, ‘How did you do it all these years?’
There’s something
exciting going on here every day. I don’t think you’d work at a company
so long if the people weren’t good to work with. It’s fun to come to
work. It’s been a long haul, but it’s been fun.”
Competition is
healthy
The opening of
Boise-based Albertsons in 2002 took a bite out of Atkinsons’ business.
“It hurt,” said owner Chip Atkinson. “But, it was kind of what we
expected. The people who really got hurt were Valley Market and Williams
Market. Those two stores’ customer bases switched more. 70 percent of
our customers I consider very loyal.” Indeed, competition has existed in
myriad forms up and down the valley corridor throughout Atkinsons’
history. In 1925, brothers Oscar and Albert Griffith opened a food and
outfitting operation on Main Street. In 1937, the Griffith family sold
the store to Olie Glenn, whose family named the grocery store the Golden
Rule. The Glenns relocated to a new, larger site on the opposite side of
Main Street in 1981. After the Golden Rule closed, the store was leased
to successive grocers: Safeway, Farmer Jack, Perron’s Market and,
finally, Williams Market. “That was all since 1983,” said Chip.
Chris Williams leased
the former Perron’s Market site on Main Street in the early 1990s.
Business was brisk until September 2001, when the economy stumbled after
the terrorist attacks on the East Coast. That event was followed by
Albertsons’ opening in Hailey and an exodus of residents to the south
valley. No longer were so many shoppers strolling Williams Market’s
aisles. The family business closed in 2005.
Despite the southward
migration not all Hailey grocers fared well. On March 27, 2002, the same
day the new Hailey Albertsons opened, Paul Zatica, owner of Paul’s
Market, submitted two applications to the city of Hailey for a new
store. His plans were rejected, and the store, which had been on Main
Street since the late 1980s, closed in spring 2003.The opening of Valley
Market in 1996 created Bellevue’s largest grocery store. However, within
six years they sold to Atkinsons’. Now, only chainstore giant Albertsons
and Atkinsons’ remain to battle for market share.
The people behind
the counters
Mike
Woodall
Meat department manager
Ketchum store
10 years
Keeping up with the varied requests of a national and international
clientele is one of the best parts of Mike Woodall’s job. “It’s very
challenging and at the same time, very rewarding,” he said. “I have the
opportunity to buy products from all over the U.S. and all over the
world. That part is very exciting. People want the best, the very best
quality. This summer people want certain items. Next year it’ll be
something else. That’s the challenge.” Woodall rises early to make the
long drive from Shoshone to Ketchum every morning. Less expensive
housing in Lincoln County allows him to continue working in a place that
is by now a second home to him. “This will be my 11th Christmas here,”
he said. “I wouldn’t trade this job for anything.”
Margaret
Kacalek
Supervisor checker
Hailey store
19 years
Margaret Kacalek joins the northbound flow of cars each morning to
travel from her home south of Bellevue to her other “home” in Hailey.
“Mostly I take care of the front end and make sure all the checkers get
their job done,” said the 19-year veteran of Atkinsons’ Market. “I’ve
had a very good experience here. It’s almost my first home. The best
part is meeting people, waiting on people,” she said. “And I love my
bosses and co-workers. There’s very good teamwork.” Kacalek feels the
passing of time only when younger employees—some who do carryouts are
just in their teens—return for a visit. “When they come back, they’re
married and have kids. You’re going, ‘Oh my gosh. Where did that time
go?’ It’s like you raise them as a family.”
Sue
Nöel
Customer service desk
Ketchum store
3 years
Sue Nöel’s face is a familiar one to many locals. Besides her three
years working at Atkinsons’, and 30 years shopping there, she’s served
on the Ketchum City Council, the KART board and the Housing Authority
board. Her voice is familiar, too. “I’m really active in singing,” said
the Caritas Chorale member. However, her activity at work rivals her off
hours. As a customer service clerk, demands come in from every
direction. “This desk is multi-tasking to the nth degree. It’s sort of
like being a concierge in a hotel. I give recommendations on where to
eat and what to do, things that don’t really have anything to do with
Atkinsons’. I’ve lived here so long, I can do that.” One of her favorite
tasks is selling lottery tickets. The customers, the Atkinson family and
the daily challenges will keep her working at the store for years to
come. “Unless I win the lottery, I’ll do this until I drop at the cash
register.”
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