Louis “Lou” Andrew Amen passed away peacefully on May 5, 2020 at his home in Corona del Mar, CA at the age of 90.
Louis, the middle of five sons, was born on May 17, 1929 in Flint, Michigan, to Bishara Ameen Tannous and Marcella Ann Radwin, both immigrants from Lebanon. He graduated from Northern High School in 1946. Lou was a lifelong entrepreneur and the perfect example of the “American Dream,” starting his first business as a teenager selling Eskimo Pies to the GM factory workers. He used the $1500 profits he saved to help relocate his family to Los Angeles, where they could enjoy warmer weather.
At the age of 17, Lou held his first management position in the grocery industry as the Produce Manager at the A&P store in Hermosa Beach, California. He leased the produce department from the Vernon Vermont market in 1952. On his first day, he started with $60 in produce that he sold for $100. The next day he bought $100 in produce that he sold for $200. Within two years he had become a full partner. For a decade they had the grocery concessions in the back of Leonard’s Discount stores. Shortly after they formed S&A Foods that grew into a 10 store chain, which was later sold to Arden-Mayfair.
In 1971, Lou started Super A Foods, which grew to over 500 employees and currently has eight locations. Even in his older years, he continued to work four days a week, including the morning he passed. He fiercely loved the grocery profession and became an industry leader, serving as Board Member and Chairman of both Unified Grocers of California (for over 40 years) and the California Grocers Association. Lou Amen received several honors as a grocery advocate throughout his lifetime including his induction into the Food Industry Hall of Fame in 2016. He is well known and respected in the industry for his deep knowledge and love of grocery, business acumen and strong relationships with peers. Four of his children, son-in-law and two grandchildren continue his legacy at Super A Foods.
In 1949, Lou met the love of his life, Dolores "Dorie" Ara at a Lebanese picnic on Labor Day. Their first date was at the Lime House Chinese restaurant where they shared curry noodle soup. They were married February 18th, 1950 in Los Angeles. He always teased that he needed to get married so he could get back to work; even then dating was exhausting!
Lou and Dorie raised seven children in Encino and later relocated to Corona del Mar in 1974. Their family continued to grow in Orange County and their tight knit clan currently includes 21 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, with two more on the way. His seven children credit their father’s strong work ethic and moral example to their modern day success. He has been a role model to many including his grandchildren, employees and industry colleagues.
You would often find Lou playing cards with Dorie, his children and grandchildren. His competitive spirit made him quite the card challenger and beating him was the ultimate bragging rights in the Amen household. Lou also loved nature, regularly tending to one of his many flower pots or taking sunset pictures from his balcony of 45 years.
In 1983, Lou and Dorie purchased a family ranch in Fillmore, where he enjoyed hand picking oranges, avocados and lemons to give to his family and friends that frequented their home. After establishing several citrus ranches, he served on the board of the Fillmore Piru Citrus Association for three years. Shortly after, the city council approached him about opening a local market in Fillmore and so he added a Super A Foods store to the area.
Louis is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Dolores, father to Christine Amen, James (Sherrie) Amen, Dr. Daniel (Tana) Amen, Jeanne (Ken) Miller, Mary Anne Amen, Renee Amen and Joanne (Joud) Tedmori. Grandfather to Jeff (Kashauna) Roberts, Nicole (Christopher) Wasgatt, Jimmy Amen, Matt (Charly) Amen, Andy (Meghan) Amen, Anton Amen, Breanne (Jesse) Payne, Kaitlyn (Kyle) Brumleu, Chloe Amen, Kenny (Niccole) Miller, Krystle (Chad) Meyer, Celina (Brian) Coffman, Daniel (Dalise) Falkenstein, Michael Amen Falkenstein, Nicholas Falkenstein, Jaclyn (Tyson) Petrovich, Amanda (Kevin) Steinbeck, Jina (Christian) Provensen, Jennifer (Paul) Raftery, Jude “JJ” (Alex) Tedmori, and Jeffrey (Bianca) Tedmori.
Memorial donations may be made to The California Grocers Association Educational Foundation, the fund providing scholarships for Lou’s employees and their family members for over 20 years. 7200 Dominion Circle, City of Commerce, CA 90040.