Janssen’s Market
Wilmington, Del.
Janssen’s Market is
sometimes referred to as
a “gourmet convenience
store” by its management.
It provides members of its
suburban Wilmington, Del.,
community of Greenville
with a go-to place to pick up
hand-cut prime aged steak,
washed rind cheese from
France and local produce
along with their dish soap.
Founded by Joseph
Janssen Sr. in 1952 and
now led by his children and
grandchildren, Janssen’s
sets itself apart from local
competition by offering
difficult-to-find products.
Touting the slogan
“Gourmet and Everyday,”
Janssen’s also has an in-store cafe that has become
a community center, with
many people meeting up
for lunch or a drink during
happy hour.
Third-generation owner
Paula Janssen, who is
featured on this month’s
cover, says her family’s store
is a “special place” where
some employees have
been on board for more
than a decade and new
products are consistently
being brought in so that
customers “see something
new every time they shop.”
Janssen leads her team
with a simple philosophy
predicated on her belief that
independent grocers need to
“leverage what they do best:
connecting directly with the
customer,” as well as being
receptive and adapting
quickly. But while she says
doing both “will become
increasingly more difficult
as consolidations continue
on the wholesale side and
sourcing products becomes
more difficult,” Janssen’s will
stay the course by nurturing
customer connections.
Owner Paula
Janssen at
her company’s
Wilmington,
Del., store.
In-Store Experience
PHOTOGRAPH BY
COLIN LENTON
