For the first time since local grocery store JJ&F’s founding 62 years ago, the Garcia family is not behind the counter.
The store takes its name from brothers Joe, John, and Frank Garcia who opened the College Terrace grocery store in 1948. Over the years it has garnered a loyal customer following.
In an open letter to the community published the week of Nov. 21, owners (and sons of the founders) Lloyd, Dennis, and John Garcia cited the struggling economy and changing consumer shopping habits as problems that finally put J&FF out of business. Emerald Market took over on Nov. 22, according to Palo Alto High School senior Cory Garcia, who is John Garcia’s son.
“I was sad about the store closing because it had been a part of our family for so long,” Cory Garcia said. “I also felt bad for my dad, because he worked so long and so hard for so many years to run a successful family market. It seemed like all of the customers were as sad as we were because they felt like family.”
Paly senior Gracie Marshall and her family used to shop there frequently.
“I am sad that JJ&F is going out of business because I grew up shopping there and have formed close friendships with many of the employees,” Marshall said. “I know that my family is really going to miss the deli. JJ&F’s sandwiches always had a disproportionately large amount of meat, which we greatly appreciated.”
Though the store has been in the Garcia family since its opening, Cory Garcia did not aspire to continue the legacy.
“I never wanted to inherit the store,” he said. “All it was for me was a job to fall back on if I didn’t make it into college.”
John Garcia has found a job working in the toy department of Diddams, but losing the store has taken a financial toll on the family, Cory Garcia said.
“My dad does have a new job but it doesn’t pay quite as well; also because he doesn’t work at a grocery store we have to pay full price for food and, believe it or not, that is actually hurting us a good amount,” he said. His mother works as a teacher’s aid in the Special Education department at Jordan.
Looking back, Cory Garcia described how integral the store was to his life.
“I spent a lot of time there while I was growing up,” Cory Garcia said. “I learned a lot from listening to the employees and joking around with them.”