Store Owner Amy Snook...I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar!

by Lydia Marshall

I know, I know...the title of this blog might sound cheesy, but it depicts the Hazel Dell Grocery Outlet store owner in the best sense of the term, so please bear with me. Maybe at the end of this post, you too will agree with me that this woman truly can roar!

I have the privilege of working for Amy Snook. Not only is she a physically stunning being, but she is just as solid, real and beautiful on the inside. Her heart is big, wide and open to loving and helping those around her.

So, who is your Hazel Dell Grocery Outlet store owner? This is Amy...

Amy started her career with Safeway 24 years ago. She started out as a courtesy clerk and worked her way up to checker, and step by step...through hard work, training and learning, she just kept climbing the ladder with Safeway. Amy was promoted to store manager in the year 2000 and kept that title...a woman in a man's world, for 11 years. She was happy, proud and living a good life with her family.

Then one day, life threw Amy a punch in the gut. Her sister was killed by a drunk driver. Tessa was young, beautiful, smart, in love and newly married...life was at her fingertips and just taken away from her in an instant. This tragedy was the impetus that made Amy look long and hard at her life and what she wanted, as she realized how short life truly can be.

The decision to leave Safeway was a hard one...to leave the stability of a regular paycheck week after week and jump in to owning a business was a huge challenge, especially on her own, a single mother of two. After losing Tessa, it was a moment in life to decide what to do in the next half of her career. Losing her precious sister to a drunk driver became a huge wake up call in how short life can be. It was Amy's wake up call to go after life. After a few months of mourning, she decided to make a change that would shift the direction of her life forever.

How did Grocery Outlet come about for you? 
"I stepped into Grocery Outlet for the first time and was amazed at what I saw in the values and variety that the store had to offer. In fact, I almost missed my daughters soccer game because I spent so much time looking around that first time." Amy further elaborates, "I knew in a very short time that this is where I belong." Next came the exploration of the business model, interviewing store owners, studying the values of the company, and what was learned was loved. Everything began to fall in to place...the right people, the right financing, the courage, the will, the support, and it became obvious to move forward and pursue this dream.

So the arduous training began...17 long months of training in fact, eight months of which were in Lake Tahoe, away from her children Trevor (17) and Rylee (15). Family support was huge for Amy. Before embarking on the commitment, a family meeting was had to see if her children and family would and could support this new venture and dream. Everyone stepped up and Amy, with her faith, finally recognized the potential that this opportunity had to offer.

Training taught the aspects of running a business from a different philosophy; not from a managerial perspective as much as an entrepreneurial aspect of building, growing and running a business. The launch of the store was one of the biggest grand openings that Grocery Outlet had experienced thus far in their history. The support of the community, family and friends was extraordinary. The property which had switched several hands over the years, and was actually vacant for eight years, had come alive again! Life was brought back to the area and word of mouth had made this opening a huge success! Watch the video of grand opening here.

There is also something very important to bring up here. Most outlets in this franchise are owned by couples and families, but not this one, Amy has this store all on her own shoulders. She is truly an amazing individual who's goal is not only to achieve her own success, but to help those people around her become a success as well.

Amy gives people a chance...a chance to be employed and build a career for themselves. In my case, she's helped me tremendously over the last few months. I approached Amy in dire need. I was embarking on a divorce after 17 years of marriage and had my financial stability completely pulled from under me. All of the sudden, I had the responsibility of supporting my child all on my own. I approached Amy in my hour of need and pitched her a business proposal.  I proposed starting tastings / samplings of items sold in the store that I would prepare and serve to customers. She didn't know me, I had only been a customer, and I might have been a familiar face is all, but what Amy did know is that a local Mom needed help. She also believed that this idea could work for the store in serving her community of customers that much better than already established. So, she gave me a shot and we are building something great together.

What has the experience of the last two years brought you?

"I have experienced a strength and determination to succeed that I didn't know I had. I always thought I was limited, but this is a deeper determination that I've never felt before." Amy further states, "I think it's because I view this business as a family and I have 26 other families (employees) that I want to see and help to succeed and grow. This gives me a sense of determination to keep going even in the most of challenging times."  

What do your children think about all of this?

Trevor: "It was a challenge on our family that my dad had to cover everything when my mom went to Tahoe for training. I knew he was frustrated, but I understood my mom. She lives by a rule to go out and do what she's passionate about. She goes after her dreams and I admire that. It's the thing that I admire most about her, she goes after what she wants in life." 

Rylee: "I understand what my mom does and I don't resent that the store is taking her away from me. It was hard for me when my mom left to go to Lake Tahoe for training, but when the ribbon cutting happened for the grand opening, I was so proud of my mom. I'm proud of her for all that she has has done. It inspires me to aspire for more in my own life. She has motivated me to go above and beyond in my own life to succeed."

This is a note that Rylee gave to her mom. It depicts it the best and truly shows the support that Amy's children extend to her for embarking on this adventure.

"As a mother of two, your always feeling guilty about how much time is spent away from the kids. The business becomes another child in itself, and sometimes the new child is put first over soccer games, baseball games and the like, but seeing the pride that my children express over their mom 'owning a store' is priceless." Amy further elaborates, "my children get to learn to appreciate what the store is giving them. I hope to show my kids that everything in life is possible, and that hard work results in great satisfaction and plenty of rewards. The value of work, determination and faith always pay off."

What are your aspirations for the store?
"I want our little store to be a strong pillar in the community. My team and I strive each day to make that happen. We strive for it to be a fun, inviting environment for everyone, while we continue to save our shoppers lots of money."

Why is the community so important to you?
"It's this community that I have been a part of and worked in that has helped me to become the person that I am today. I feel that the stronger the community is, helping one another out just builds a win - win relationship. My main focus in community building and philanthropy is the elderly, children and families." Amy continues on to express, "I said this when I opened my store...I love the elderly people, the young children, the environment and animals. I love families as the key to life, because I had to work three jobs on occasion, and work at a laundry mat at two in the morning to help my family make ends meet when I was young. So now, I want to help families in any form to help them help their own families."

Interests and Top Priorities
"Faith is the foundation of it all...God is first. Spending time with family is second. Nature...walks, hikes, scuba diving, the love of animals and travel is third. Anything that is a part of nature is key in my life because it makes me feel at peace when I open myself up to the vulnerability of nature and animals. On occasion...it's all about great food and wine."

What would you want to say to God - or God to you, as you enter the pearly gates?
"I don't see meeting God in heaven. I see myself living forever on earth...not under these conditions, but living here on earth as it was intended by God...a paradise on earth, and still being with God. Not necessarily meeting God in heaven, but experiencing the benefits of his presence here on earth."

Final Last word: "Come check us out first and be a part of our extended family. When you shop at our store you're not only helping yourselves with great items and values, you are helping so many of our own employee families, and you truly are giving back to the community that we are trying to build here. You're helping our store family!"

Quirky Tidbits:
Favorite dessert: carrot cake
Favorite actor: Rick Springfield...loved him and wanted to marry him
First concert: Air Supply (my mom drug me to it) Def Leopard was my first official concert though
Favorite spot on earth so far: Venice by far!
Favorite type of wine: Cabernet Sauvignon
Favorite restaurant: My own kitchen - most satisfying to create food and the presentation
Favorite movie: Under The Tuscan Sun