Marty Jarvis started with B&R Stores 30 years ago as a bagger at the Russ’s Market on 66th and O Street. He moved to Super Saver when it opened a couple of years later and within a few years, make his way to the Home Office and currently serves as Director of Marketing. B&R Stores consists of four different grocery banners with 17 total locations – Russ’s Market was founded in May of 1964. They now have seven Russ’s Market locations (six in Lincoln and one in Hastings). The Super Saver banner started in 1984 and there are now eight locations (four Lincoln, one each in Omaha, Council Bluffs, Grand Island and Columbus). B&R Stores also have a limited assortment store – Save Best in Lincoln and another conventional format store in Kearney which is called Grand Central Apple Market.
Tell us a little about your family. – I have been married to Karla for 26 years. She is a dietitian with Family Services WIC. We have two children – Nathan will be entering Law School at UNL this fall and Rachel will be a freshman at Lincoln Northeast. Both children make us very proud in all they do.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Spend the day outside – a round of golf with my friends followed by grilling some food and having dinner with my family on the deck.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I have a golf ball collection in my office – 1,400+ golf balls.
What are you the most proud of? – Nate and Rachel – my children.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – If Russ Raybould would leave the office for the day, he would tell me, “treat it like you own it; just don’t sell it”. His message was to take the responsibility as an owner in everything that I did.
What is the one goal you would most like to accomplish? – My goal is to keep learning something new every day.
How would your friends describe you? – My friends would describe me as an avid Husker fan that is a sarcastic trivia buff and will never turn down a game of golf.
Which talent would you most like to have? – I’d like to play guitar or other such musical instrument so that I could jam with my daughter.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – The last book I read was Built To Serve by Dan J. Sanders. He is the president of United Supermarkets in Texas. The book contains many lessons on accountability, leadership and customer service. It’s written from a supermarket perspective, but it translates very well into other business endeavors.
What is your favorite movie? – It’s a toss-up between Casablanca and Office Space.
What is your favorite TV show? – Right now I enjoy some of the shows on History Channel – American Pickers and Pawn Shop. The part I enjoy the most is learning the history about the items featured on the shows.
What is your favorite Lincoln restaurant? – My favorite Lincoln restaurant? That’s tough to decide. I could name my favorite Mexican restaurant, pizza, diner or sandwich shop, but there are too many good local restaurants to name just one.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Jesus Christ would definitely be at the top of the list.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Email – marty@brstores.com. LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/martyjarvis