05/04/2025
In Loving Memory of Jim Savas
1942 – 2025
It is with our utmost sympathy and heaviest hearts that we share the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, boss, and dear friend, Jim Savas, who left this world in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Born in 1942 as the youngest of nine children, Jim’s roots in Salt Lake City ran deep. A few short years later, in 1947, Grove Market and Deli opened its doors—and by the age of 19, Jim had stepped in as its primary owner and operator. What followed was a legacy of leadership, loyalty, and love that shaped not just a business, but a community.
Under Jim’s care, Grove Market became more than just a place to get the biggest sandwich you’ve ever seen—it became a cornerstone of the city. Through economic ups and downs, Jim’s vision, hard work, and innovations kept the doors open and the shelves full.
To the patrons who walked through those doors, Jim was the heart and soul of Grove Market. He greeted you by name, remembered your last conversation, and genuinely cared how you were doing. His warmth and generosity extended far beyond the register. He led with fairness, honesty, and virtue, always choosing people over profit and never wavering in his commitment to quality and affordability.
Jim Savas was Grove Market.
He was a beacon—loyal not just in word, but in action. He gave of himself fully, investing in the lives of those around him, and in turn, we were all better for it.
To know Jim was to be known.
To be served by Jim was to be cared for.
To walk into Grove Market was to walk into his heart.
Thank you, Jim, for everything. Your legacy lives on in every towering sandwich, every friendly face behind the counter, and every memory made within those walls.
You will be missed beyond words.
Rest in peace.
**In light of Jim’s passing, Grove Market will be closed May 5 and will reopen May 13**
