Ark Valley News - Leeker’s closing affects teens, too

Mallory Fiebich jokes with Leeker's manager Mike Collins during a Halloween promotion. Fiebich said employees were like a family.

Leeker’s closing affects teens, too
By Emmie Boese
Last Updated: April 12, 2018

Leeker's Family Foods in Valley Center employed many teenagers over the years.

Now that the store is closing, some of the teens who work there now will move to the company's location in Park City, and some are forced to look for different jobs.

Valley Center Leeker's had 42 full- and part-time employees.

Leeker's owner Chris Steindler said last week that 10 employees transferred to the Park City Leeker's and two to the liquor store the company owns in Park City.

The store's last day also has been set.

Steindler said the store will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through April 14.

Haley Scarth, a junior at Valley Center High School, worked at Leeker's for about a year and is looking for another job in a town where jobs for teenagers are already scarce.

She was disappointed when she heard about the closing.

"I started working at Leeker's last April so I have worked there for just around a year," said Scarth. "I was sad and pretty surprised, honestly, because we always have people in the store, and I was worried about what I was going to do for a new job."

Mallory Fiebich, who is also a junior at Valley Center High School, was also sad that Leeker's is closing down, but she will be working at the Park City Leeker's from now on.

"I started working at Leeker's around the end of September towards the beginning of October," said Fiebich. "I honestly was surprised when I heard it was shutting down. I thought it would stay open at least a few more years, but now I will be working at the Park City Leeker's, and I can't wait."

Scarth and Fiebich said they had a good experience while working at the Valley Center location.

"I became very close with everyone I work with," Scarth said. "It's like a second little family almost."

"It is family friendly, and there was never at day I wouldn't smile," Fiebich added.

Leeker's has employed hundreds of teenagers over the years.

The store has been in Valley Center since 1968. It moved from the 200 block of East Main to the new and larger facility at 801 S. Meridian in 2000.

Since then, the Valley Center store has been unprofitable for the company in all but two years, Steindler said.