Kim Tabaku’s journey to Knoxville saw a number of detours along the way. Her parents first immigrated to the United States after opposing and escaping communism in Albania, moving to Ormond Beach, Florida where Kim would spend her early years. It wasn’t until 2009, when her parents returned to their home country after losing both their business and home that she would make the move to Knoxville.

Three days after her new roots were planted in Knoxville, Kim had a job in the bakery deli at a local Food City and unrecognized at the time, she was about to create a lifelong family.

Fast forward 15 years, and Kim has worked at 17 different Food City locations across Knoxville and its surrounding counties. She’s done just about every role imaginable with these stores. From working behind the deli to being floral manager, from floral manager to floral supervisor, supervisor to human resource coordinator and now to now being the store manager of the Middlebrook Pike location in what she terms, “a rewarding, challenging, educating and promising journey.” Oh, and her husband, Steven, is the market manager in Maryville.

As an employee of a place that interacts with all walks of life, Kim has seen plenty of stress and success down these well-stocked aisles. One of the most stressful days on the job, she recalls, was March 17, 2020, on the brink of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim recalls coming back into work after her lunch break to empty shelves and checkout lines trailing through the building. At the time, they didn’t think of it as anything more than a great day for sales.

“It was like a snow rush to the extreme!” Kim said. “I was a Lead Assistant Manager and another Assistant Lori was on the register just crying from laughter. ‘Kimmy they won’t stop coming! We are going to sell every single thing we have! Isn’t that awesome!’ I know it was chaotic for a bit, but we made the best of it.”

One of the best things about the job is the new faces always in and out of these stores and again because everybody needs groceries. One of her fonder memories of her time at Food City involves former stock car racing driver Richard Petty making a guest appearance coming to one of her locations. After winning a franchise-wide competition and raising the most money for Paralyzed Veterans, Petty paid the employees a visit, signing autographs and hanging out with fans for the evening.

In any industry there are ebbs and flows, but especially as a grocer, Kim says you see the peaks and valleys not only in your customers but in your team as well. She believes that the foundation of any worthwhile experience in her store comes first with communication. Even if a customer can’t find what they need, they’ll be more likely to return if they are treated as if their needs are of the utmost priority.

“When you learn that listening can make all the difference, conversations change and you hear so much more than the actual words,” Tabaku said. “No two individuals are the same, so they can’t be taught the exact same or managed the exact same. Sometimes we must evolve to the situation. Celebrating the wins, regardless of how small they may be, is a definite must! Communication is a two-way street, always.”

While her career still has many miles to go, she says she feels comfortable in her current role. Interacting with customers and watching those under her thrive are where she’s said to get the most fulfillment yet. Right now, she’s taking it one day at a time. She’s constantly inspired by a quote from Dale Carnegie: “Remember, today is the tomorrow you were worrying about yesterday.”

Kim Tabuku also remembers the lessons she learned from her parents who she said instilled in her that any job you have can be the best job, if you put your heart into it, give it your all, and treat it with the respect it deserves.

 

Adam Delahoussaye is a freelance writer for the KnoxTNToday who loves telling stories about music, arts and culture in and around his hometown. Have a story for Adam? He can be reached at email  or text 865-919-5059 with your story idea.