Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose A. Flores.
Hi Jose, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
La Familia Stop ‘n’ Shop opened in 1988 in what is known as the SW Grandville Avenue Corridor, home to the largest Hispanic Community in the West Michigan. The area was significantly blighted, depressed, gang ridden and had few struggling businesses. The location of 1066 Grandville Ave. SW was a former gas station previously owned by Crystal Flash and had been sold “unloaded” to a Latino who eventually lost the property because of a drug conviction from this location. Through several acquaintances, Mr. Flores, an educator, was able to assemble the pieces of the puzzle to purchase and open the very small building location and began selling basic grocery items. He was unable to sell gas or alcohol due to a law governing fuel storage tanks that were required to be removed. So, the motivation to unload the location by Crystal Flash was obvious. Owners would be responsible for tank removal, contamination assessment and removal of any contamination found. The need for “buyer beware” advice was obvious here but undisclosed to the previous owner and to now Mr. Flores. Michigan law also worked against this entrepreneurial endeavor as it prohibited the sale of alcohol by gas stations at that time.
His family was young and he was full of energy, having returned to Grand Rapids to work as a Bilingual Social Studies Teacher in the Grand Rapids Public Schools he had visions of improving his neighborhood and community at large. He had dedicated many years of his life as a volunteer founding the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan and beginning the first Hispanic American Heritage Festival for Grand Rapids. Many innovative programs sprung forth from the Hispanic Center including interpreting, employment, housing assistance, employment training, educational tutoring, summer youth employment projects and a bilingual publication. José was also a political advocate for his community spending time with others planning political campaigns and electing Hispanic/Latino leaders to public posts. He too ran for City Commission and later would sit on the GRPS Board of Education as a trustee after retirement.
Dr. Flores recalls, “I was caught in catch 22 as I was unable to obtain financing from banks due to the fuel storage tanks issue and we were not allowed to sell alcohol if we engaged the location as a gas station. We were stuck and I was still working as a teacher leaving my wife and children in an unsafe location while I worked my shift teaching.” Working two jobs has always been a strategy for Dr. Flores, who is viewed as a person who doesn’t shy aware from challenges or adversity in the workplace and community activism. Building community following his store dream would slowly develop into a small “mom and pop” Mexican style store with great neighborhood support. His career flourished and he became a GRPS administrator at the district level responsible for bilingual, migrant, Native American and refugee education programs. He found himself often challenging the school district on equity issues and led the district to correct many of the inequities through local, state and federal civil rights pressure-based initiatives. He would become a symbol for change through community activism. The costs, however, would later cause retribution by his employment superiors.
He stated, “We only travel through this lifetime once and I am committed to living with purpose!” He dug into the role as store proprietor spending countless hours building a family and community centered business later resolving fuel storage tank issues and financing obstacles enabling the store to obtain a liquor license for the sale of beer and wine. He would also successfully offer SNAP EBT and WIC based purchases. The store flourished even in several recessions but never out of step with the neighborhood location. “Our inner-city location” will only produce a certain level of prosperity but we will continue to make modest advancements according to Dr. Flores. We aren’t a “get rich quick” operation. We are slow and methodical. Over time La Familia Stop n Shop continued to grow and assist to stabilize the community. Working to motivate young people toward more positive outcomes, Dr. Flores worked with the gangs and others to find alternatives to destructive ends. “Some of them never left the streets but many listened to me and we were able to help them graduate from school, develop their skills and form their own construction companies. Some, however, went on to jail and/or prison as they couldn’t break the cycle. “Our youth are worth saving and we should do all that is humanly possible to reach and teach them!” They are worth saving, he asserted.
La Familia has become an iconic figure on the city’s southwest side and has been the focal point for community including upcoming entertainers and filmmakers who have recorded their videos and films on location to incorporate the Spanish/Indigenous architectural unique look of the store and owner’s home to their visual creations. ” We continue to contribute to promoting our community, our heritage and our commitment to this nation as residents and citizens!” concluded Dr. Flores. La Familia’s long history in the community is a testament to neighborhood support and commitment to purpose. Family legacy has been well established by the years of service his late father Concepcion Flores, Sr. served at La Familia. Concepcion and José have left a legacy for the next generations having built an enterprise that includes grocery, restaurant, bilingual magazine, and multicultural radio enterprises.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our history has been filled with challenges. Stereotypes, discrimination, lack of adequate funding, the challenge of competition by an influx of well-funded Mexican based supermarkets and other latino centered outlets have outpaced our market in the greater community. Adequate financing has always been a challenge.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Concepcion Flores, Sr. (Father to José) gave 20 years of service prior to his passing in 2005, Daniel Flores, brother to José, Primavera Flores, daughter, worked providing the Community Voice/La Voz Magazine website management and store coverage enabling José to enjoy periodic vacations, and Reyna Hernandez, daughter who currently works managing the small staff at La Familia and also D.J.’s on the radio.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lavozweb.com
