Nobody Knows the Neighborhood like Compare Foods
By Sheila Cottringer
   
Jim Woodward introduced Eligio Pena and explained to Rotarians that his friend "Leo" had a wonderful story to tell about his pursuit of the American Dream. Eligio Pena did not disappoint this member with his story. It was a story of a young man who came to this country because his opportunities in America were greater than they were in his island home of the Dominican Republic.
  
While Mr. Pena said he was just another immigrant, his story was reflective of a man who is both humble and gracious. He came to New York in 1970 on April 15th and declared that now he knows it is tax day. His first job in America was at a small mom and pop grocery store. He collected Coca Cola bottles during his first few months on the job. Within three months, he was promoted to a managerial position but his $60 per week salary did not change. Soon after, he was offered a job at $90 a week. True to his ambitious self, he took the new job. He worked hard, saved $1,500 and had a dream of owning his own grocery store.
 
A small grocery store soon became available for $6,000. He purchased the store in a joint venture and was soon in business for himself. Mr. Pena later sold his half of the store and purchased another store. Shortly he owned five stores. He dreamed of owning a grocery chain and decided to sell his stores, buy a cab and go back to school. After six semesters, he gained knowledge in accounting and business administration. It was what he needed to fulfill his dream.
 
His purchase of a store in Queens put him in competition with the A & P store in the area. While A & P served a large group of customers in the area, there were many customers not served. His store was local and offered better customer service to his customers. At his store the workers knew their customers by name and made sure they were able to provide the food products their customers requested. Eligio invited his two brothers to join him in the business. After forming their C Corporation, they went to work to realize the dream of building a store brand that could compete with A & P. They not only competed with A & P, they purchased the store when it closed.
 
The rest is history. Lenders recognized his business knowledge and watched the success of the stores. Soon lenders were calling to inform him of stores they could buy.
 
The target customer was Hispanic and other ethnic groups. Their grocery selection is as diverse as the customers they serve. Compare Foods has a wide variety of foods not found in other stores. If you enjoy cooking, you will enjoy a trip down Compare Foods isles. There you will find ingredients for that special dish that can't be found in other stores.
Eligio Pena told us that when one of his stores is established in a neighborhood, they become a part of the neighborhood by participating in the churches, youth organizations and giving back as much as they gain from the community. They like to believe they make the community a better place because they are there.
 
Compare Foods has gone into markets filling a need for the community when stores like Bi-Lo, Winn Dixie, Harris Teeter and others leave a location. Mr. Pena stated the wide variety of food choices would appeal to anyone. Today the family has stores located in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and North Carolina.
 
When asked his advice for other immigrants who want to take advantage of their opportunities in America, his reply was "Go to school and learn English."
 
One of our young visitors asked Mr. Pena if he was the manager. With a smile and a chuckle, he replied that yes indeed he was the manager.
 
The final question for Mr. Pena was whether or not he would consider running for mayor of Charlotte. His reply was a most definite "No."
 
   
Head Table: John Armistead, Bill Allen, David Zimmerman, Jim Woodward, Phil Van Hoy, Bryan Adams;
Invocation: Cecily Durrett;
Visitors & Guests: Edgar Love; Health & Happiness: Worth Williamson; Song: Richard Early; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Tom Bartholomy introduced Pat Gray to the club. Pat is president of Prevoyance Group, a company that focuses on providing strategic IT consulting. Contact Pat at pgray@prevoyancegroup.com.
   
• Sympathy is extended to the Ed Turner family in the death of Dee's mother last week.
  
• John Tabor has joined Design Strategies as managing principal of the Charlotte office. New email for John: jtabor@designstrategies.net; Classroom Central, the Public Library and LittleOnes Magazine are collecting books through March 31 for the Give Kids a Book campaign. For a list of donation drop-off locations, go to www.classroomcentral.org; Bill Anderson was photographed while attending An Evening with Friends Around Education on March 6th; Tony Marciano was photographed at Charlotte Rescue Mission's Thank You Neighborhood Dinner.
   
• Lila Rash says Mike is doing well since his back surgery and has enjoyed hearing from his Rotary friends; Gene Williams is scheduled to have hip replacement surgery on Monday; as reported last week, Ken Harris has been moved to Southminster, 8919 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210. Also note in the address Ken Harris, Camellia Court; while on a church mission trip in Cuba, Jay Westmoreland noticed Jose, the interpreter, wearing a tee shirt that said "Kick Polio." As it turned out, Jose's mother is a nurse and had participated in a Polio Eradication program in Gambia, Africa in 2005. (See this week's photos for a picture).
 
• Follow the Taiwan GSE team as they make their way through the District: www.wretch.cc/album/gse08d3520nc.
     
• DG Graham Wilson will have the opportunity to talk about Rotary's involvement with Habitat for Humanity on Fox News Rising. Those wishing to volunteer for the Habitat project can sign up here.
   
• Several have requested a copy of the Gratitude poem read by John Nicolay a few weeks ago: