Tattered Jeans
In a world full of hurry, grocery sacker Steve Regnier still believes thecustomer is always right
Steve Regnier assists customer Frances Bogatto with her groceries.Photo by Katie Oxford
Meet Rice Epicurean's Steve RegnierPhoto by Katie Oxford
Always lending a helping handPhoto by Katie Oxford
Steve loads groceries into the car in a packed-perfectly style.Photo by Katie Oxford
Steve gathering stray cartsPhoto by Katie Oxford
Steve doesnt haphazardly throw your items into bags. He places them there - nextto the right stuff - and always double bagged.Photo by Katie Oxford
Talk about serving others with a smile — that’s Steve Regnier. His last name is pronounced “like the mountain, the prince and the SUV,” Steve said. Smiling.
Born and raised in Houston, he’s worked at Rice Epicurean Market for 18 years. Ten years at the one in the Village. When that one closed, he moved to the store at 2617 Holcombe, which is where I first met Steve.
You won’t see him put your chicken next to Clorox. In a world of hurry, it’s a nice act and one that many customers have come to count on. Certainly, appreciate.
The first thing I noticed, after seeing Steve’s kind demeanor and smiling face, was the care with which he sacked my groceries. Steve doesn’t haphazardly throw your items into bags like clothes into a dryer. He places them there – next to the right stuff – double bagged.
You won’t see him put your chicken next to Clorox. In a world of hurry, it’s a nice act and one that many customers have come to count on. Certainly, appreciate.
“Customers who’ve been coming here for 20 years, will come in and say, ‘Where’s Steve?’ Usually, they know his schedule,” says store manager Ed Turpie. Steve does more than sack groceries with care. He cares period.
“He has such a large fan base that even if I deviate his work schedule - I hear about it,” store director Lisa Wilbanks laughed.
When he’s not sacking groceries and loading customer’s cars, Steve empties trash, cleans the windows, the doors in the frozen foods department. He oils the wood throughout the store.
“He does everything,” Lisa claimed. The manager called Steve, “My man for all seasons.”
Aside from being the most likeable guy at Rice Epicurean, Steve’s trusted. After Steve’s sacked their groceries, some customers give him the keys to their car! Often, I was told, Steve will have loaded their car and be back inside returning their keys to them. That is trust.
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