GENESEE COUNTY/After 50 years of serving the grocery shopping public, Tops Supermarket worker retires

After 50 years of service to the grocery shopping public, Patricia Lord has retired.

Lord retired a few weeks ago from the Tops Store in LeRoy where she has spent the last 12 years. She finished off her career working as an attendant at the gas station in LeRoy.

“She was a good worker,” says Bob Pirritano, Store Manager in LeRoy.

The Class of 1974 Alexander H.S. graduate started working at Tops in Batavia in 1973.

(Photo-Chantal Lord)

“I started the summer before my senior year in high school and told myself this will be good until I graduate, however here I am 50 years later. Must say though, I advanced very quickly and became full time Deli manager at 18, the youngest that Tops had at that time. Bakery was part of Deli then, so I was Bakery manager also. With a good rate of pay and full benefits, I made Tops my career, being part of the union made the job secure.”

Tops Supermarket in Batavia-Lord as Cheese Shoppe Manager 1990s (Submitted photo)

Lord was Manager of three departments while working at Tops in Batavia for 38 years. The Deli, Carry-out Cafe and Specialty Cheese Shop 1988 through 1990.

She was also a Union Steward from 1980 to 2007 until changing stores. She is still member of UFCW Local 1(United Food and Commercial Workers Union).

Tops Friendly Markets – About Us (topsmarkets.com)

The current Batavia Tops store that opened in March of 1988 was a lot different than the old store that was located across the street.

What was different about the new store at 390 West Main Street?

“Alot, the layout of the store, the number of departments, the expanded variety, but the basics have always been the same, friendly helpful customer service, fresh quality products, welcoming environment, and clean and inviting.”

When asked what she will miss about being at the big supermarket chain?

“Oh wow, where to begin, the people, the customers, the challenge of managing my departments and the benefits.”

Lord will always remember the Blizzard of 1977 and getting stranded at the old Batavia store.

“I stayed there a day and a half in store cooking for everyone else that was stranded which was approximately six associates store manager and myself. The guys slept on registers, I slept on black coach in back room and the manager slept in his office on cot. After a day and half, I stayed at my girlfriend’s house for week then finally went home. It was quite the experience, people coming in on snowmobiles because roads were closed, the store having empty cases and shelves because we had no deliveries for ten days. Yeah, it was quite the experience. Very memorable.”

Tim Brigham, a current store manager at a different location and a past store manager at the LeRoy store, says Lord knew the business and was a voice for associates.

“In the five years I worked with Patti Lord I seen that she is a devoted wife, mother and Tops Associate. She always knew what was going on in the business whether it was the store or Tops in General. She was an instrumental part as an advocate for the associates with a voice in the union throughout her years of service.  Patti always had an ear for someone to talk to and would help in any way possible. I know she held multiple positions throughout her career that she talked fondly about regularly.”