Chris (Store Director)
Chris has been working with food since he can remember, from a courtesy clerk in his teens, restaurants in his college days, and a variety of positions in grocery stores ever since. Having been with metropolitan market for almost 5 years now (and in the industry for 16+ years), he has a passion for working with people, and loves introducing and sharing great food with others. Not a stranger to the area, Chris has worked at the Magnolia and Queen Anne stores previously and is excited for the opportunity to build new relationships in the Crown Hill community.
Bob (Assistant Store Director)
Born and raised in Seattle, Bob has spent a lifetime in grocery with over 40 years of experience in the industry. Bob joined metropolitan market over 6 years ago and has been inspired by working with team members and the growth that he helps develop. His motivation is to create a high-quality shopping experience and is looking forward to serving guests, team members, and the community.
James (Floral Team Leader)
A California native, James found their way to Seattle while attending college at SPU but stayed as a permanent resident after falling in love with the changing seasons (something uncommon for Huntington Beach where they grew up). With 7+ years in the grocery industry, James has a deep passion for guest services, but the transition to working in Floral has provided a way to express a range of creativity while continuing to create a positive and memorable experience for guests.
Thomas (Produce Team Leader)
Raised in Seattle, Thomas has been in the grocery industry for over 35 years. He joined the metropolitan market team in 1996 working at the old upper Queen Anne store, lower Queen Anne store, Sand Point, and supporting just about every other location from Kirkland to Mercer Island. While his introduction to Produce wasn’t intentional, the position stuck immediately as he loved the ongoing learning that came with new and seasonal produce throughout the year. The position also allowed him a creative outlet when it came to merchandising and color breaks in the displays he was setting. With each season, Thomas loves to learn about and try new items coming in (sometimes buying something new to experiment in a dish at home), allowing him to not only see and taste the product, but also help suggest and talk about it to guests daily.
Kelsey (Beer, Wine & Spirits Team Leader)
Moving up to Seattle from Southern California, Kelsey’s experience spans from a category buyer for a local grocery store to managing beer & wine departments in a variety of other grocers. Her career path brought her to metropolitan market just in time for the Crown Hill store opening. Her love for beer, wine & spirits is driven by the constant education and ongoing changes within the industry, and her opportunity to share knowledge with guests whether it be around types of wines, or specific pairings for an upcoming meal.
John (Butcher Shop Team Leader)
Born and raised in Colorado, John bounced around the US, living in Miami for a number of years, before finding his way across the country to Seattle. With a love for nature and need to stay close to the mountains for some snowboarding on his off time, he now calls Washington home. John’s education to the craft around meat started over 20 years ago and working through several positions in different parts of the industry has brought him to lead the Butcher Shop team at the Crown Hill store. His drive and passion are fueled by meeting new people, providing great service, and ensuring guests are receiving a quality product for their next meal.
David (Home & Health Team Leader)
A wellness guru for the last 15 years, David’s experience has led him from San Francisco to Portland, and eventually, here to Seattle. While friends may have helped influence the move up to the PNW, it was the nature and outdoor adventures that has kept him here. Relatively to new to metropolitan market (2022), David is excited to join the Crown Hill team. His passion around wellness is driven by the ongoing education through new brands, new products, and changes in the industry, keeping things fresh and exciting all the time.
Theron (Grocery Team Leader)
In the last 25 years, Theron has worked his way through various grocery positions from POS to a buyer in a handful of grocers. Joining metropolitan market in 2014, Theron has worked at Sand Point, Lower Queen Anne, and Magnolia. As a Green lake resident, Theron is excited to join the Crown Hill store as a place he calls home and a community he is well familiar with. His passion for the job is attributed to what he calls, the “Riddle of Grocery” constantly problem solving, and looking at product merchandising as a “puzzle.” Working with the team and helping guests in their culinary adventures keeps him motivated as he builds those long-lasting relationships.
Max (Cheese Team Leader)
With a deep appreciation for food at a young age, Max started working in the cheese industry when he was just 16 years old. His fascination with cooking, travel, and culture all tied in perfectly with cheese. So many different flavors can come from the cheesemaking process, which starts with the same base ingredients of milk, salt and cultures. Coming up on 20 years of experience, Max carries with him certifications from the American Cheese Society (ACS). Equivalent to that of a wine sommelier, Max is a Certified Cheese Professional (CCP®), as well as a Certified Cheese Sensory Evaluator (CCSE®). His favorite part of the job? Helping introduce new cheese to guests and continually learning.
Garrett (Prepared Foods Team Leader)
A culinary powerhouse, Garrett’s experience in the food industry stretches from his early days as a fine dining chef in San Francisco, to positions as an executive pastry chef for Tom Douglas, and executive chef at mamnoon in Seattle. A former James Beard nominee for best chef in the Northwest, Garrett brings with him over 20 years of experience. Garrett has found himself joining the metropolitan market team 4 years ago as he searched for a better balance to spend time with his family. His passion for the job is not only based around his love for culinary expression, but creating a positive impact for the team he works with, and developing individuals for opportunities that go beyond the job.
Bill (Bakery & Coffee Shop Team Leader)
If you’ve shopped at some of our other locations previously, you may recognize Bill working behind the bakery & coffee shop. Having been in the industry for over 30 years, and metropolitan market for 17 years, Bill has most recently been working out of the Queen Anne and Mercer Island locations. With an attention to detail, Bill is ready to lead the team at Crown Hill to make it the best it can possibly be.
Mike (Guest Service Team Leader)
A familiar face from our Queen Anne location, Mike Janis has been working in grocery for his whole career (30+ years) and made his way to the front end as our Guest Service Lead. His love and passion for working with, and developing teams, along with his positive attitude and personable approach to service, create an exceptional experience for our guests.
