Frank Draeger, founder of Menlo market, dies Frank Draeger, founder of Menlo market, dies (July 13, 2005)

** Frank Draeger opened the Menlo Park store in 1956.

Francis Jean "Frank" Draeger, founder of Menlo Park's popular Draeger's market and father of 10, died in his sleep on July 2 at his home in Hillsborough. He was 86.

For many years, Mr. Draeger had been a familiar sight at the Menlo Park store. Always impeccably dressed with jacket and tie, he would be seen greeting longtime customers or having lunch with his family in the second-floor restaurant. "Frank's meat loaf," made from his special recipe, is featured in the deli department.

Shopping at Draeger's has been a way of life for generations of local residents. Every year, the market is a top vote-getter in the Almanac's Readers' Choice awards.

Born April 1, 1919, to Gustave and Harriet Draeger in San Francisco, Frank Draeger learned to love the grocery business, working side by side with his father in the family's delicatessen and liquor stores in San Francisco.

He not only waited on customers, he used his talent in woodworking to build cabinets for the stores. Later in life, he would become president and CEO of Draeger's Supermarkets, a gourmet food business with three locations: Menlo Park, San Mateo and Los Altos.

Frank Draeger opened the Menlo Park store in 1956 at 1010 University Drive. The store was completely remodeled in 1990-91 with the square footage doubled to include a two-story atrium defined by 25-foot oak columns, a wine and coffee bar, cooking school, cookware department, a Chinese take-out kitchen, and a floral department.

Through the years, many celebrities of the food world, including Julia Child and Jacques Pepin, visited the culinary school.

In 1997 the Draeger family opened a new flagship store at 222 E. Fourth Ave. in San Mateo. It has a culinary school, sausage kitchen and smokehouse, Viognier restaurant, and a sophisticated wine storage facility.

Mr. Draeger's success in business was the result of his strong work ethic, passion for life and love of his family, say family members.

While growing up, all 10 of his children worked in the Menlo Park store, bagging groceries or helping with office work. Six of them continue to work in management for Draeger's today.

Mr. Draeger volunteered for or supported many charitable organizations, including St. Bartholomew's Church in San Mateo, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Mateo County, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Serra Club, and Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton.

He received many honors, including a 1987 Menlo Park Golden Acorn award for professional service and the 2003 Albert J. Giannotti award for business excellence, both from the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce.

He was a past president of the Wine and Food Society, a past officer of the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, and a former director of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce.

He was a World War II veteran who served with the Army Air Corps in Europe.

Mr. Draeger is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Draeger, of Hillsborough; sister Harriet Draeger; children John Draeger of Los Altos Hills, Clotilde Lockwood of San Mateo, Anthony Draeger of Menlo Park, James Draeger of Belvedere, Richard Draeger of Woodside, Patrick Draeger of Sonoma, Peter Draeger of Portola Valley, Mary Claire DeSoto of Redwood City, Rebecca Peters of San Carlos, and Joany Draeger of Redwood City; and 22 grandchildren.

Services were held July 9 at St. Bartholomew's Church in San Mateo. Memorials in Mr. Draeger's name may be sent to St. Bartholomew's Church, 300 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA 94402; or to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 50 North B St., San Mateo, CA 94401.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.