Reflections of a Century in Groceries and Good Will

At the top of the bulletin board in the employee break room at Erickson’s Thriftway in Bend is a carefully clipped obituary notice, slightly wrinkled and a bit yellowed with age. Surrounded by normal business items such as safety policies, compliance notifications and public health notices, the bit of newsprint stands out. A closer look reveals a tribute to the life of Beverly Jean Voos, who passed away at age 84 in 2012.

“Bev just loved coming to the store and she was one of our regular customers for many years,” said Doug Schmidt, who has been the general manager of Erickson’s since 1980. “It was the highlight of her week to come in, you could just tell she really liked coming here from the look on her face.”

When Voos passed away, her sons visited the store to express their appreciation to the staff for bringing such happiness to their mother. In fact, a special note of gratitude to the employees of Erickson’s is included in her published obituary, expressing thanks for “… all of their help over the years and for treating her like a queen.”

Developing friendships with customers and their families that last through the years — and treating their customers like royalty — is an everyday occurrence at Erickson’s.

Marcia Rose has just popped in to the market to pick up a few items, and she’s happy to take a moment to enthuse about her experience with the store over the years. Erickson’s is always clean, they have anything you might need, and the checkout lines are always short she says, but it’s really the employees who work here that make all the difference.

“I like the way they take care of people,” said Rose. “Their friendliness, their helpfulness. If there is something I want that is not out on the shelf they will go in back and get it for me.”

Rose, whose maiden name is Skjersaa, was born in Bend and can remember when Erickson’s was located on the West side of town on Columbia. She recalls that her father walked right past the store every day on his way to work at the mill. Her mother worked at Erickson’s for a time, as did Rose herself while she was a student.

“I still like coming here,” said Rose. “I have felt like part of the Erickson family for many years and I like for independent stores to make it. After all, that is what made Bend to start with.”

Founded by one of Bend’s earliest settlers, Peter Erickson, more than 100 years ago, the store was moved to its current location at 725 NE Greenwood in the mid-1950s. Erickson’s sons, Carl and Arthur, continued in their father’s footsteps and grew the business, which at its height had a dozen stores located throughout Central Oregon and Salem, said Schmidt.

There are four Erickson’s that remain open today, including locations in Bend, Madras, Prineville and Burns. The Erickson family still owns the land and building that the current store in Bend occupies, and although ownership of the market itself has passed into new hands, Schmidt is proud to say that in its 100-plus years of existence the store has always been locally owned. The current owners are Bob Eberhard and Ron Bryant, both of whom were former employees of Erickson’s in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, according to Schmidt. Eberhard worked at the Redmond location and Bryant worked at the Madras store.

“Being locally owned and operated is one of the keys to our success,” said Schmidt. “And I also credit the many long-time employees who truly care about our customers.”

Debbie Huber is one of several employees at Erickson’s with decades of service to her credit, having just celebrated 40 years as an employee. She currently works as head checker and trainer. Huber started at the store in 1976, brand new to Bend and not knowing a soul.

“I feel so blessed to have worked here,” said Huber. “The employees are so wonderful and they just took me in as their family.”

Family is a thread that runs through all conversations about the environment at Erickson’s. Huber’s daughter had her first job at Erickson’s, as did her granddaughter. Schmidt’s daughter also worked at the store as a student.

“It is definitely a family-type atmosphere here,” said Schmidt. “All our kids grew up together.”

And the definition of family extends to the customers as well.

“We consider longtime customers as part of the family,” said Huber. “We’ve seen weddings, births, grandchildren, 50th anniversaries, family reunions…people are so gracious in involving us in their lives, and of course, death. We see the full circle here.”

Huber and other employees have even celebrated shared birthdays and exchanged cards with longtime customers, including Ellen Logan. Logan, who has been an Erickson’s customer since she moved to Bend in 1978, says that the store feels like home.

“My three children grew up in Erickson’s. They would run to the aisle where the raisins were and eat a small box of raisins while we shopped,” said Logan. “Now, I shop with my grandsons and they look forward to the cookie at the bakery counter. My mother-in-law moved to Bend in 1982 and also shopped at Erickson’s. It was a family outing to go to the store.”

Logan appreciates the friendliness of the staff, and looks forward to catching up on family events and sharing when she visits.

“A lot of people visit a couple of times a week to pick things up, so you get to know them,” said Huber. “When people come in I always ask about their family, what their plans are for the weekend, that sort of thing. And over time the relationships keep building and grow into friendships.”

Like a true friend, Huber has even been known to loan a longtime customer a few dollars when they’ve forgotten their wallet. As a matter of fact, the spirit of generosity at Erickson’s has a long history. Rose recalls her mother sharing stories with her about Erickson’s during the Great Depression, and how the store would carry people on the books who couldn’t afford to pay.

For her part, Huber credits the honest quality of the customers for the positive atmosphere.

“We have the best customers in the world,” said Huber. “If you are going to lose your purse, phone or keys in our store, just know you are always going to get it back. Our customers are so honest and amazing.”

Marlena Lohman—who retired from Erickson’s in April after 35 years with the store, most recently as assistant manager—said that what she misses most about working at the store are the customers.

“We had longtime customers that had been coming in to the store for longer than I worked there,” said Lohman. “There is a hometown feel at Erickson’s.”

Even though she is enjoying her retirement and has no plans to return to work, Lohman says that she does miss the close relationships she developed over the years not only with customers, but with her fellow employees as well.

“You are only as good as your team,” said Lohman. “And teamwork was a strength for us. One person could start something and if they got called away someone else would step right in for them and complete the task. We worked hand in hand.”

Together, said Lohman, the employees at Erickson’s work hard to make each customer feel welcome and appreciated.

“Bend has gotten so large and most of the other markets just herd you through. You can go anywhere in town to buy groceries, but we always tried to make people feel that they are important and that they’ve come home.”

Schmidt is fully aware of the stiff competition Erickson’s faces in the grocery industry, but remains grounded in the more than 100 years of Erickson’s staying power.

“There is lots of competition but we have a niche,” said Schmidt. “It is easy to shop at our stores, we are the right size, you never have to wait, we have everything you need and we take good care of you.”

And that last aspect, the genuine quality of the interactions at the store, is what truly sets it apart.

“It is always nice to come in and see friendly faces,” said Rose.

Logan concurs.

“Erickson’s has a special place in my heart.”