{"id":2451206,"date":"2019-11-17T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T07:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=316176"},"modified":"2019-11-18T08:12:58","modified_gmt":"2019-11-18T15:12:58","slug":"market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/","title":{"rendered":"Market forces at work for City Market\u2019s longtime manager retiring after four decades"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.6239035087719\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-316176-530\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | City Market general manager John Hailey stands in the front of the store in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey has been the store\u2019s general manager since 1998.(Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.590909090909\">\n<p><strong>City Market general manager John Hailey stands in the front of the store in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey has been the store\u2019s general manager since 1998.(Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1024x682.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"City Market general manager John Hailey stands in the front of the store in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey has been the store\u2019s general manager since 1998.(Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1-1024x677.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | John Hailey organizes inventory in the Aspen City Market on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey has 43 years of grocery store experience. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.526315789474\">\n<p><strong>John Hailey organizes inventory in the Aspen City Market on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey has 43 years of grocery store experience. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1-1024x677.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1-1024x677.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-1-1024x677.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"John Hailey organizes inventory in the Aspen City Market on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey has 43 years of grocery store experience. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-2-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | City Market general manager John Hailey takes a phone call at the front register in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey officially retires on December 3. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.576923076923\">\n<p><strong>City Market general manager John Hailey takes a phone call at the front register in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey officially retires on December 3. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-2-1024x683.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-2-1024x683.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-2-1024x683.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"City Market general manager John Hailey takes a phone call at the front register in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey officially retires on December 3. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-3-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | City Market produce manager Jason Zalonis, left, and general manager John Hailey talk in the produce section of the supermarket in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.9625\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12.5125\">\n<p><strong>City Market produce manager Jason Zalonis, left, and general manager John Hailey talk in the produce section of the supermarket in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-3-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-3-1024x682.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-3-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"City Market produce manager Jason Zalonis, left, and general manager John Hailey talk in the produce section of the supermarket in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-4-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | John Hailey sits in his office with a letter from Governor Jared Polis displayed on his desk in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.517073170732\">\n<p><strong>John Hailey sits in his office with a letter from Governor Jared Polis displayed on his desk in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-4-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-4-1024x682.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-4-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"John Hailey sits in his office with a letter from Governor Jared Polis displayed on his desk in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-5-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Chris Bennetts, left, and John Hailey talk in the back of the City Market in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Bennetts and Hailey have worked together for over 25 years. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.96341463414634\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12.524390243902\">\n<p><strong>Chris Bennetts, left, and John Hailey talk in the back of the City Market in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Bennetts and Hailey have worked together for over 25 years. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-5-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-5-1024x682.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-5-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Chris Bennetts, left, and John Hailey talk in the back of the City Market in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Bennetts and Hailey have worked together for over 25 years. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-6-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | City Market general manager John Hailey walks down aisle four of the supermarket in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.47668393782383\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9.5336787564767\">\n<p><strong>City Market general manager John Hailey walks down aisle four of the supermarket in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-6-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-6-1024x682.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-6-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"City Market general manager John Hailey walks down aisle four of the supermarket in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-7-803x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A congratulatory email from Governor Jared Polis sits on the desk of City Market general manager John Hailey in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10.552036199095\">\n<p><strong>A congratulatory email from Governor Jared Polis sits on the desk of City Market general manager John Hailey in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-7-803x1024.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-7-803x1024.jpg\"><i class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/Johnhailey-atd-111619-1-7-803x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A congratulatory email from Governor Jared Polis sits on the desk of City Market general manager John Hailey in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">After 43 years in the grocery business, John Hailey has been counting the days to his retirement this fall. Now, he\u2019s just got one more Monday left before he checks out as Aspen\u2019s favorite grocery store manager.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Hailey, who has been the store\u2019s general manager at the Aspen market since 1998 but has served in <a id=\"N0x2793070N0x258dde0:N0x2793070N0x27560d8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/mountain-character-john-hailey-the-face-of-city-market\/\">many other roles here and at other stores<\/a> since the late 1970s, officially retires on Dec. 3.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It\u2019s hard not to run into Hailey in the narrow aisles of the 12,500-square-foot store, and he\u2019s quick to greet customers by name and throw out one of his famous one-liners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIf you eat, usually I will see you,\u201d he said with his signature grin. \u201cMy day is a series of probably 200 two-minute conversations and that\u2019s wonderful, you know, because you get a little bit of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">On Nov. 12, his 18th day left of work, Hailey was stationed near the entrance of the store when a customer walked in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHi Sara Sara,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She replied self-consciously with a matted head of hair, \u201cHow\u2019s my hair?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHow do you want me to answer that?\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She smiled back, slipped her stocking cap on and began her shopping.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He\u2019ll explain to his employees how to \u201crotate the stripes and change the seeds in the watermelons,\u201d and tell his customers who might be nibbling on something as they shop, \u201cWe are going to weigh you now and then on the way out, and charge you the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">When prices get slashed on sale items and are put into the \u201cwoohoo!\u201d section, Hailey will say, \u201cWe aren\u2019t here to make money, just friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A native of Tennessee who comes from a family of similar humor, Hailey summed up his long tenure at City Market by quipping with his Southern drawl that, \u201cI sold groceries for the last supper.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Hailey\u2019s humor is just part of his presence in the store.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">If a customer doesn\u2019t know where an item is, Hailey is quick to point them in the right direction, and if the store doesn\u2019t have something he\u2019ll try to get it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe usually have someone stop in El Jebel (at the City Market) every day and pick items up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">When asked how he handled the more demanding class of customers who are outside the regular local clientele over the years, Hailey responded in his usual positive manner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cYou tend to remember the negative comments that you get but if you really take a close look at it, the positive ones are probably 99 percent and the negative ones are 1 percent,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the important thing to do is listen with an open mind and react to the things you need to react to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Lisa Harris, who has worked at City Market for 36 years, said Hailey always manages to be upbeat and positive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe are going to miss him a lot,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s the only guy who comes running when you call for help, everyone else ignores us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Hailey recently received a letter from Gov. Jared Polis, commending him for his tenure and service.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That was the doing of Aspen resident Joel Sax, who was able to get a proclamation from the governor regarding Hailey\u2019s contributions to his <a id=\"N0x2793070N0x258de40:N0x2793070N0x2756c18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspens-city-market-takes-diversion-to-next-level-takes-on-composting\/\">work and the community<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHe is the best,\u201d said Diane Moore, Sax\u2019s wife. \u201cWhile we are happy for him and his upcoming retirement, he is irreplaceable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt is rare to meet someone with such a positive outlook on life. He is always willing to help everyone in the store. And he has a wicked sense of humor. \u2026 We have shared so many laughs with him over the years. We feel very fortunate to have been able to get to know him, and are happy he will be staying in Aspen. There is something special about John\u2019s southern charm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Hailey, 65, said it\u2019s the people that he loves most about his job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI think that everybody who comes to the grocery store, it\u2019s a chore for them and you know if you can have a couple light-hearted moments, maybe it\u2019ll make your day a little better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Hailey has seen many bizarre things in what can be a wacky resort town at times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">There\u2019s the woman who called 911 because the person in front of her had more than 15 items in the express lane, or the cocaine left on the self checkout scanner that fell out of a customer\u2019s wallet or the lady who came in every morning wearing a full-length mink coat in the middle of the summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI started talking to her and I got to know her name and one morning I said, \u2018Elizabeth I\u2019m curious why do you wear that coat in here every morning?\u2019 She opened her coat and said \u2018cuz I got my pajamas on under here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The famous customers he\u2019s encountered recently have been music legends Ringo Star and Joe Walsh, football player Brett Favre of Green Bay fame and Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cBut my most favorite famous celebrities are Jill St. John and Robert Wagner,\u201d Hailey said. \u201cThey are so nice and pleasant and it\u2019s been a real pleasure to see them all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">There have been three big lottery winners during his time at the Aspen store \u2014 a $500,000 and a $100,000 winner in recent years. About a decade ago another $100,000 ticket was sold but it was never claimed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cSomebody once asked me what I would do if I won the Powerball or lottery and I said, \u2018I\u2019d buy that house across the street and walk to work,\u2019\u201d Hailey laughed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Carlos Garcia, assistant store manager who has worked with Hailey for 22 years, said it will be hard to replace his boss.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHe leads by example and is a trustful guy,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cIt will be big shoes to fill and wear.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Kroger Co., the parent company that owns the City Market supermarket retail chain, hasn\u2019t announced Hailey\u2019s replacement yet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Hailey\u2019s seen some change over the years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He worked at City Market when the all-natural Snoberries store was in the basement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He was part of the team that switched the entire store\u2019s inventory from price labels to bar codes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Self checkout stands went in and online shopping services have become available.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And then there was the <a id=\"N0x2793070N0x258df60:N0x2793070N0x257c358\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/asbestos-new-wrinkle-in-remodel-of-aspen-city-market\/\">remodel <\/a>about a decade ago that had the entire store under construction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat was challenging to operate. \u2026 We found asbestos in the ceiling and we had to build a platform eight feet off the floor,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was a long winter, but it was actually fun being able to get through that because the customers were surprisingly resilient and they just went with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Hailey said he wouldn\u2019t change a thing about his career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThe thing that I take away the most for the years of work here are the relationships I\u2019ve made with customers and employees \u2014 they are pretty special,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the people who live here are the heart and soul of this place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They become like family, Hailey said, pointing out a woman at the service counter who had breast cancer. Hailey explained that he put her mother up at his house during her treatment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He said he is going to miss the daily interactions with people, and will likely find himself a part-time job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Hailey said he plans to fill his days with learning how to play the guitar better, take some Spanish classes, hit the casino and horse track, and get in better physical shape.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019ll probably take a month off and then I\u2019m going to do something, work somewhere,\u201d he said. \u201cThe book is open.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:csackariason@aspentimes.com\">csackariason@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/market-forces-at-work-for-city-markets-longtime-manager-retiring-after-four-decades\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>City Market general manager John Hailey stands in the front of the store in Aspen on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey has been the store\u2019s general manager since 1998.(Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times Buy Photo John Hailey organizes inventory in the Aspen City Market on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Hailey has 43 years [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2451206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-19 06:03:57","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2451206"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2451239,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451206\/revisions\/2451239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2451206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2451206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2451206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}