Best Place to Work – Dillons

Store opens doors to students

By The Free Press, Maria CarrascoJanuary 6, 2015Leave a Comment

A common study spot for Free State students, Dillons caters to both sides of 15th Street, offering many students their first job. “It’s pretty easy to get hired there, so I guess that would be a pretty good reason to give them the [award],” senior Stewart Merz said. Photo by Sam Goodwin, The Free Press

Location: 3000 W. 6th St. (24 hrs), 1015 W. 23rd St. (24 hrs), 4701 W. 6th St. (6– 12 a.m.), 1740 Massachusetts St. (6– 12 a.m.)
Total votes: 73
Best known for: Offering many job opportunities for high school students
Year established in Hutchinson: 1913

Walking into the Dillons on Massachusetts Street, Free State senior Andrew Chavez enjoys the wafting aroma of mochas and lattes from the in-store Starbucks as he clocks in. The store bustles with customers as high school-aged employees bag groceries, ring up merchandise and stock shelves.

Dillons first opened in Lawrence in 1960, establishing a chain of four grocery stores in town and was ultimately purchased by Kroger.

Dillons is known for its willingness to hire young employees. As a starting job, Dillons provides an easy platform for students to immediately start working.

“It’s just another simple job, so don’t stress out about it, just be honest with the information you’re giving them,” Chavez said.

Dillons offers employees the chance to work in various positions throughout the store. Chavez, who’s been working at Dillons for two years, has had the opportunity to try out many different jobs.

“I bag groceries, get carts and I’m also a checker,” Chavez said. “… I do the cash register and everything like that.”

Like Chavez, Lawrence High junior Patrick Buchanan balances working at Dillons with homework during the school year.

“During the school year I work about 10-15 hours [per week] and during the summer I would say about 25,” Buchanan said.

Along with job accessibility, Dillons gives many perks to its workers, including a 10 percent discount off of all Kroger and Apple products.

“Weekly paychecks are a big perk because I’m terrible at budgeting my budget,” Free State senior Stewart Merz said.

Dillons provides job experience to students, teaching them skills for future jobs.

“It’s a pretty solid place to get some job experience and how to do customer service and basic skills,” Merz said.

2nd Place: Hy-Vee – 3504 Clinton Parkway, 4000 W. Sixth St.

3rd Place: Salty Iguana – 4931 W. Sixth St.

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