John Zupan (c. 1945–2011) was the founder of an American independent grocery store chain called Zupan's Markets in Oregon.[1] Established in 1975, the store continues to operate in Portland nearly 50 years later, operated by his son, Mike Zupan.[2]
Career
He started working in the produce business at age 16, as a produce clerk at Sheridan Fruit Company, Inc., in Southeast Portland,[3] followed by Corno's Food Market.[1] For 11 years, he worked at Fred Meyer, eventually serving as produce district manager, and worked personally with Fred G. Meyer himself.[1]
At age 30, Zupan and his coworker Chuck Gaylord bought Zim's grocery store near Gresham.[1] After selling his share of the business, Zupan went on to operate Thiftway and Food Pavilion stores, before finally opening his first Zupan's Markets store in Burnside.[1] He opened his fourth Zupan's Market store in Burnside in 1996.[3] At the time, Zupan's Markets was an Oregon corporation with administrative offices in Washington.[3]
Zupan handed his business over to his son Michael in 2000.[1] Even after his son took over the business, the stores were designed not to distract from fresh food.[4] At the time of his death in 2011, the store was known as an upscale gourmet grocery store.[1]
Personal life
Zupan's hobby was vintage cars and motorcycles.[3] For many years, Zupan's Markets sponsored an annual vintage car race on Portland International Speedway.[3] He was also part owner of an indoor soccer team.[3]
In 2011, he died aged 66 in a motorcycle accident.[1] When he died, Ron McKnight, former president of the Northwest Grocers Association, called him "a grocery store maverick, an innovator, a visionary".[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Gunderson, Laura (September 1, 2011). "John Zupan, Portland grocery 'maverick,' dies at 66". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "About". Zupan's Markets. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Rose, Michael (December 13, 1996). "John Zupan runs grocery business at full throttle". Portland Business Journal. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ Fehrenbacher, Gretchen (June 15, 2003). "Fresh Thinking: Michael Zupan takes his parents' Vancouver-based grocery chain to new level". The Columbian. Retrieved March 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.