Code,999063
Subject,Burt Saltzman
Date,7/15/2008
Interviewer,James Calder
Abstract,"Burt Saltzman, the owner of Dave's Supermarkets, illuminates why the neighborhood supermarket is still essential to Cleveland. Through the years, Dave's has remained a fixture in Cleveland. Dave's achieved this by providing customers with the not-forgotten personal touch to service of a by-gone era. Saltzman describes how Dave's has grown and expanded through the years and by doing so offers a new perspective on how the neighborhoods in Cleveland have changed and developed. "
Tags:,"Dave's Supermarket, food, ethnicity, Payne neighborhood"
Special Notes,
minutes:,
0,Introductions are made and Burt Saltzman provides his family's history. Saltzman is the owner of Dave's Supermarkets. Definition of a husker. 
1,Further explanation of a husker. Grandfather bought his produce from the Produce Terminal on 40th and Woodland. 
2,"Grandparents were separated and his father, Dave, lived with mother in Toledo. Saltzman's father then moved to Cleveland."
3,"Grandfather and father opened up a small store, still Dave's main location. At first only sold  produce, lack of refrigeration. "
4,Discusses how the store transformed into being a community staple.
5,"The community was very ethnic and self-sufficient. There were no supermarkets, but rather corner stores. "
6,As business grew the selection of food offered also diversified. 
7,Saltzman delivered groceries to customers via a wagon and was paid for his deliveries. Saltzman provides his educational background.
8,He describes the joy he had working in the store. After college he joined the business and from there it really started to grow. 
9,He provides the reasons why he decided to expand the family business beyond one store. 
10,Many single store operators no long are in business. The rise of the supermarket chains in Cleveland. 
11,"After ANP pulled out of the area, Dave's got a break purchased a second store."
12,"His father did not think a second store was needed, but Saltzman went ahead. "
13,Decribes the community around 33rd and Payne. Predominantly German. 
14,Germans left and new groups moved in. He lists some reasons why people moved to the community. 
15,He outfitted his store with staples that reflected the ethnic tastes of the people in the community. 
16,Saltzman remembers many of his old customers and frequently goes to their wakes when they pass away. 
17,Today the neighborhood is more Asian and the real estate values have gone up. 
18,The residents of the community are frugal shoppers. 
19,The children of older customers still frequently shop at the store. He expresses how central the store is to the community. 
20,"Dave's opened a store on the Westside that caters to the Hispanic population, Dave's Mercado. "
21,He describes the Dave's Mercado store. 
22,Saltzman notes the difficulties in opening a store like Mercado's. 
23,He mentions the interesting mix of people in Ohio City. The people appreciate diversity and he expresses that in his stores. 
24,The appreciation of diversity in Cleveland's communities allows for Saltzman to reflect that diversity in his stores. 
25,In the Payne neighborhood the Asian community still frequents Dave's to supplement their purchases from the other specifically Asian grocery stores. 
26,He believes that the majority of Clevelanders are good people regardless of the occasional bad publicity the city gets. 
27,Saltzman mentions the good times he has had growing with the community. The bad times included the Hough Riots. 
28,He discusses how the Hough Riots affected the store. He believes that the store is a fixture in the community and no harm would befall him. 
29,He shares abeing taken advantage of at the store. 
30,He shares being ripped off. 
31,The story continues of being ripped off. However whether good or bad it is all part of the business. 
32,His two son's educational and occupational backgrounds. 
33,When his sons started to work at the store the business really started to expand. 
34,The latest expansion came from securing four of the Tops stores as they pulled out of the area. 
35,With the purchase of the Tops stores they doubled business. The business after this had to be restructured. 
36,They currently operate 13 stores and have expanded out to Akron. 
37,Their greatest strength is honesty and not leaving the inner-city. The business grew with the city. 
38,A few mayors have called him and asked him to open stores in specific locations. 
39,He hopes for the redevelopment of Cleveland. The business donates to hunger centers. 
40,Saltzman has developed the reputation of being a nice guy. He donates food to churches. 
41,"At the airport he is even recognized, he attributes this to being in the community for so long. "
42,Dave's is still the center/hub of business on Payne Avenue. East Cleveland does not have a supermarket. 
43,"The growth of the hospital and the redevelopment of downtown is bringing people back to the city. He describes how the neighborhoods are changing, especially W. 25th Street."
44,A real estate agent expressed to Saltzman how much the W. 25th Street area needed a grocery store. It feels good to be in a place where the business is wanted. 
45,Saltzman's children really run the business now. He focuses much of his attention on the Payne Avenue store. 
46,He helps out around the store. He even carries groceries out to peoples cars. 
47,Without his children/grandchildren the business would not what it is today. 
48,Saltzman foresees the business continuing until its 100th Anniversary. They have a good relationship with Giant Eagle. 
49,Giant Eagle is Dave's wholesaler and has taught them some tricks of the trade. Competition is healthy.
50,"Dave's forte is meat. Pricewise Dave's is competitive, but lacks the gas perks. "
51,"The big-box-sellers like Wal-Mart caused some worry, however, the personal touch offered at Dave's sets them apart."
52,Fairness allows for all to coexist in the grocery business. 
53,Everyday the food prices increase. The consumers in the area need to be better shoppers. Service/gas charges are now tacked on to each delivery. 
54,"Just in the last 6-8 months (of the interview), Saltzman notes how much everything has gone up in cost. "
55,He expresses how difficult business is right now due to the rise in prices. 
56,Recent news programming on smart-shopping. 
57,People are going to the store less often because of gas prices. 
58,"People are buying more at one time. Regardless of being in an urban center, people still do not walk. "
59,He discusses Dave's relationship with the RTA and how that has helped business. 
60,He expresses how much he still loves the business and how proud he is of what the stores have accomplished. 
61,Saltzman joined a country club. He describes that it was not his scene. 
62,He enjoys being with and serving people. His work is his life. The interview ends. 
63,