It’s been nearly twenty years since Michelle Park and her husband Han, opened their Greengrocer, Park’s Market. Six mornings a week, Han arrives on Jerrold Avenue at the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market before sunrise to select the finest fruits and vegetables for their loyal customers.

 

I wonder what it’s like to live and work with your spouse. Especially, since they both work seven day a week, and their market is only closed four days a year.

“Working with my husband can be challenging, but having worked together for so long, we have our dynamics that usually work. I've learned that sometimes it can be easier to just let him do things his way. Sometimes it’s very hard, but my personality….I’m not against a person. If we have a different opinion, I let him do it his way. I will follow.”

Michelle is the youngest of seven children and as a young girl she wanted to come to America, fall in love and possibly marry a Doctor. At least, two of her wishes came true. She and Han met in 1972 in their homeland, South Korea. Michelle was in college studying Korean History and Han was an Army Officer. They married and came to San Francisco. Han was a student at USF and both Han and Michelle worked two jobs. Initially, Han and Michelle helped Han's older brother and sister in law run Park's Market on 5th and Irving. Before opening their own store in 1988, Han worked at Florsheim Shoes in Union Square and Michelle worked in the medical claims for the Prudential Insurance Company.Today, they have a steady clientele.

“80% of our customers are the same people every day, every week.”

She tells me a story. Her customer Steve moved from the Sunset to the Richmond many years ago. Every Saturday morning, Steve drives back to the Sunset and looks for a nearby parking spot. He engages in conversation with the Parks and selects his fruits and vegetables. He drives back to the Richmond and looks forward to the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. He begins his week and awaits his weekly Sunset stop and a ripe conversation the following Saturday. The Parks also look forward to their Saturday exchange.

Michelle remembers raising her daughter in the Market, and as a little girl, Olivia would help her Mother unload the crates of milk and place the quarts in the refrigerator.

“My customers watched Olivia grow up.”

Michelle admits Olivia’s teenage years were challenging and she remains grateful for the advice she received from many of her steady customers. Today, Olivia, a stunning dark haired bespectacled beauty, occasionally helps out at her parents Market, but she is busy as an artist, creating pen and ink drawings and tutoring Autistic pre-schoolers. Olivia's artwork includes works on paper and large scale installations.This Fall,she'll have a solo show at Mina Dresden Gallery on Valencia Street.

The Park’s niece, Siyoung, also an artist, a textile designer,helps out her Aunt and Uncle at Park’s Market, in between her artistic endeavors.

KDFC melodiously plays in the background as I grab a bunch of bananas and some baby bok choy. I’m waltzing with Chopin and by the time I pick out a few juicy lemons, Vivaldi is taking me to The Four Seasons.

Michelle lets me know,

“It’s soothing music to listen to when you’re working.”

Customer satisfaction is a high priority for the Park’s. One customer requested Clover Milk. Michelle decided,

“I can’t drop Berkeley Farms. They’ve delivered milk to me for twenty years. We are like family.”

She made the decision to carry both Berkeley Farms and Clover.

“I have to estimate how much of each I’ll sell, so that there’s not too much waste. Sometimes I’m close and sometimes I’m not.”

Like many of her fellow merchants and neighbors Michelle is contented in this neighborhood.

“It’s friendly. It’s safe. And it’s convenient to almost everything.”

I’m grateful for the warmth the Park’s exude, the bounty they provide and the music.

 

NEXT WEEK: MEET ADAH FROM SUNSET STATIONERS.