Charlie Higuera builds a legacy for family and Pacific Grove at Grove Market.

To say Charlie Higuera loves being a butcher is an understatement. At 85, he still works four days a week at Grove Market, the downtown Pacific Grove grocery store he started almost 50 years ago, making it the oldest surviving grocery business in town. And although he is slowing down a bit, he still enjoys the work.

“I love it! I just like seeing my customers and helping them,” he says.

Higuera was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula. He learned butchering early on – a family tradition handed down by his father who started butchering in the late 1880s to his uncle, his brother and then himself – and went to work at the Forest Hill Store on Forest Avenue where Trader Joe’s is today. He left the Peninsula during the Korean War as a U.S. Marine, returning home to continue working as a butcher.

When the Super Save on Forest Avenue in downtown P.G. – just down the hill – became available for sale in 1969, Higuera and his wife at the time, Marge, and another couple, Dwight and Marge Langley, purchased it and opened Grove Market, joining six other markets in town at that time. (Both couples got married on the same day.)

Forest Avenue is the “only street I’ve ever worked on,” Higuera says.

After working 12 – to 14-hour days with a limited staff for years at the beginning, Grove Market became a community gathering spot and now employs about 25 people. Higuera credits the business’ staying power to personal service, quality meats, prepared foods, a wide array of products and home delivery to P.G., Pebble Beach and New Monterey.

“People are surprised by our little store,” he says of the selection. “Why go to the bigger stores when we have just about anything you could want?”

Higuera also believes in being involved in the community – he’s volunteered his services and food for barbecues for local schools and city events many times over the years.

The prepared foods and meat counter is always a busy spot right at the front of the store. Lori Taylor, who’s worked for Higuera for over 30 years, runs the prepared food section, and Higuera’s granddaughter Kristy Mason is continuing the family tradition of butchering. Higuera’s daughter, Kate Matuz, and her son, Johnny Mason, run the grocery section. Higuera expects his two grandkids will carry on the tradition.

“We’re here to stay,” he says. “It’s been a good run, it really has.”