Grand River Grocery Staff
CONNIE SEARL - MARKET MANAGER
Connie leads all our inside market activities and I couldn’t have a better cheerleader directing our team. I worked with Connie at D&W for ten years. She launched their partnership with Starbucks at retail and worked in a variety of management positions throughout different stores and departments. She’s bubbly, positive and has a firm handle on what it takes to run the day-to-day operations of our little market, based on her experience in the “big store.” We learn more everyday … from each other and those around us. Connie truly cares about our business, our crew and our customers. I feel very lucky to have her on my team and our crew has great respect for her knowledge and ability to always be on the “upside” of things. That makes her fun to work with (although they know she can be tough and assertive when needed!). Connie can be reached at and is always willing to help with questions, concerns or suggestions. Connie is mom to three boys, all playing serious baseball … when she’s not around the market in the summer she’s at the baseball field (sometimes all three in a day!!!).
GEORGIA GIETZEN - PROPRIETOR
I am a lifelong resident of the Cascade/Ada neighborhood and have extensive background in food retail, having worked 15 plus years for my family’s business, D&W Food Centers before it was sold to Spartan Stores in 2006. Prior to that I worked clothing retail which really helped me understand personalized service. I am passionate about great service and great products, and anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to entertain. The larger supermarket setting was always a bit of a misfit for me … I so wanted to work in a smaller, more personalized environment where I could focus on sourcing and selling really, really great, unique products, and developing personal relationships with suppliers – the people that produced the products I was selling. That’s difficult to do in a large retail setting. I also wanted to build personal relationships with my customers. I love our “cool little market” in the heart of Ada. We’re a neighborhood destination for our Starbucks coffee, special products and unique giftware. We also carry the largest selection of Michigan products in our area - we’re passionate about local and regional food. There are so many great food artisans in Michigan and we’re proud to know many of them personally and sell their products. We’re also growing our base more regionally and becoming a destination for those same reasons. That’s very exciting. We have a great crew and I’m proud to work with all of them. We have a lot of fun, we love our customers and doing what we do. I love hearing from our customers and always respond. If you’ve got something to share with me, a question I can help you with, or a suggestion please feel free to contact me at .
SARAH ANDRO - BEVERAGE AND CATERING MANAGER
Sarah is our newest edition to the Grand River Grocery team, and we all feel very lucky to have someone so knowledgeable and enthusiastic on board. Sarah comes to us by way of Martha’s Vineyard where she was Beverage Catering and Rental Manager. Prior to Martha’s, she spent time at the Chop House as Dining Room Manager and before that, worked with our friend Rimple from Bar Divani where she was the General Manager and actually worked with his team to develop and open their very successful and unique restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids. In all, she comes to Grand River Grocery with over 15 years of restaurant and retail management experience. Sarah wears two hats for us. She is our in-market buyer for all beer, wine, liquor and specialty beverage, and in that capacity, she will have a great presence on our sales floor in the beverage area. She will also oversee our deli and can help with special orders for take-out lunches, cheese boards, and light take-out catering. In her role as General Manager for our Grand River Grocery Beverage Catering business, she will manage all external events and can take care of all your beverage catering business – from your private party to a wedding, to your corporate or non-profit event. Have a catering question? Want Sarah to submit a proposal for your special event? Sarah can be reached directly at .
Sarah, like Connie and myself, is a mom and in that important role she likes taking care of her young daughter and hanging out with her hubby. Sarah and her family are active bicyclers (she rides the BIG Death Valley Bike-A-Thon, a fundraiser for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation – I get tired just thinking about it!) and she enjoys reading.
WES DAVIS - CHIEF CULINARY ARTIST
Wes joined our team in September of 2008 as our “Chief Culinary Artist”. He comes to Grand River Grocery by way of Blythefield Country Club where he was Executive Chef/Food and Beverage Director. Wes has an extensive background in the culinary arts including stints in the kitchens of Bar Divani, EGR Firehouse Grill, Tre Cugini and Bistro Bella Vita. Wes has also taught classes through Sue Chef and is a graduate of Grand Rapids Community College Culinary Arts program. In all, Wes comes to us with over 10 years of culinary experience! Wes oversees our Grand River Grocery Kitchen (located in the old Ritz Coney Hotdog space adjacent to Thornapple Daily Grill) as well as all fresh food within our market, including deli, cafe, cheese, bakery, box lunches, catering for our Beverage Catering business and take-out catering. In our kitchen, Wes creates food that utilizes local ingredients when possible, incorporates the best of our specialty foods where he can, and is approachable and delicious.
Have questions about food? How to prepare something? Wes can be emailed directly at . Wes loves interacting with customers and helping us “de-mystify” food, cooking and all that jazz. Feel free to email him with your questions.
