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Griswold’s entrepreneur
In the early 1900s, in its humble beginning, Griswold’s stood as a small candied fruit and jam company on the corner of Indian Hill and Foothill boulevards. But with the ingenuity and diligence of Alton Leffingwell “Sandy” Sanford, as well as a hearty dose of “soul searching, arguing and practically having knock-down-drag-out fights over what to do to increase our income,” wrote his wife, Betty Sanford, in a family history, Mr. Sanford, along with Ms. Sanford, built Griswold’s into a thriving hub of community activity, delectable food, successful businesses and spirited nightlife.
Mr. Sanford, who purchased Griswold’s in 1950 for $10,000, died on January 28, 2008 at the Mt. San Antonio Gardens Health Center. He was 93.
Born in Washington DC on December 24, 1914, Mr. Sanford moved with his family to Chevy Chase, Maryland in the 4th grade. Entering the University of Maryland a year after high school graduation, he studied economics and biological sciences and took a few courses in pre-law. He also joined ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps), becoming a captain and a company commander his senior year.
Upon graduation in 1936, Mr. Sanford attended business school until accepting employment at Montgomery Ward as the assistant to the personnel director, later transferring to the industrial engineering department. Learning about opportunities at Lockheed in Aircraft in Burbank, he sent in his resume, soon receiving the desired response, “Come at once.” Thus began his life in California.
Lockheed was an exciting place, not only because of the work—which included setting up the assembly line for the twin-boom fighter plane, “The Lightening”—but because Mr. Sanford met his future wife in the company’s choral group. On the Valentine’s Day after Pearl Harbor, during an evening filled with “a huge jug of wine, a warm room and a book of poetry,” he proposed.
“What else could a fellow do?” he wrote in the family history.
The two were married exactly a month later, on March 14, remaining married for 67 years. At the time, Mr. Sanford was stationed at the Del Mar racetrack and living in the stables area, arrangements which soon changed to a tiny “perfect honeymoon cottage” in La Jolla.
Later during World War II, and after several other relocations based on military transfers, Mr. Sanford served overseas as a captain in the US Army. At one point, he was assigned to serve in Adak in the Aleutian Islands, eventually heading to the Philippines under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. Mr. Sanford also served in Japan and Korea, the latter being where he experienced the end of the war.
“What a thrill!” he wrote.
Returning to Claremont after the war, Mr. Sanford continued to work at Lockheed, but kept his eye out for a small business that he and Ms. Sanford could afford and handle. It was not too long until an inheritance made the 1950 purchase of Griswold’s possible, throwing the doors wide open to an adventurous chapter of their lives.
Acquiring the small business when it was merely a candied fruit and preserves operation, Mr. Sanford and his wife did it all: picked the fruit, made the jellies and jams, produced the product catalogue, cleaned the kitchens. Additionally, Mr. Sanford was marketing the business, eventually relying on a business partner for these affairs while he continued to “sweat over the hard labor each day,” stated the family history.
Frequently arguing over how to increase income to meet the family’s needs, Mr. Sanford and his wife chose to begin a bakery, deciding that “at least folk had to eat bread everyday,” Ms. Sanford wrote. Relying on the excellent skills of a Danish baker, Mr. Sanford and his wife had to improvise when the baker’s weeklong trip to Denmark stretched into several weeks. Deciding to make “simple” rum balls using his recipe, the couple ended up botching it, but fixed the problem with a little help from the rum bottle.
“Of course, we had to taste and add, and taste and add, and taste and ADD,” wrote Ms. Sanford. “By this time, we got the giggles.”
Even with the bakery running full throttle, the Sanfords determined that they still weren’t earning enough to satisfy the family budget, so they embarked on creating the infamous Griswold’s Smorgasbord and “went all-hell-bent” to complete the plan, stated the family history.
Bustling about buying pots and pans and building tables, they prepared for opening day, a time when lunch was sold for $1.25 and dinner for $1.50. Was it their excitement that caused the power to go out at the very moment the first meal began? After scrambling to find the electrician, who restored power immediately, the smorgasbord was in business.
For 40 years, Mr. Sanford and his wife owned and operated Griswold’s, working both behind the scenes and on the front lines of the business, which ever-grew in size and success. Over time, they added the Griswold’s Art Fair, “The Boiler Room,” which was a small bar and club, several hotels and numerous other components.
Mr. Sanford’s son, Ray Sanford, noted that his father’s high integrity was largely responsible for his success.
“His handshake was his business deal,” his son said. “He stuck to his commitments.”
And along the way, even when business was struggling along and the family had little money, the Sanford’s generous nature stood at the forefront, trumping all financial difficulties. Almost immediately after they moved into a diminutive home in Claremont—which was actually a two-car garage, said his daughter, Nancy Hughes—they began welcoming international students from the Claremont Colleges into their home.
“My parents had so little. Here they were, buying horse meat to eat, but they still had students,” Ms. Hughes shared.
“As we look back over the years, we take pleasure in remembering a series of students that have spent time with us, and have added to our knowledge of the world,” wrote Ms. Sanford.
Mr. Sanford and his wife were also responsible for the Yao family’s sponsorship when they came to the US from Hong Kong in 1956: Claremont’s mayor, Peter Yao, was 12 at the time. Mayor Yao’s father played a lead role in the Griswold’s jam factory for many years.
“The Sanford’s gave my father a job without any interview, without knowing him, only on blind faith,” said Mayor Yao. “They were extremely kind and welcoming to our family and invited us to their family affairs. They helped us be able to assimilate into American society when we initially spoke very little English and were totally strange to the community of Claremont.”
Ms. Yao also noted that Mr. Sanford, in addition to being a great businessman, was very involved with the community. At one point, he served on Claremont’s city council.
Throughout the years, Mr. Sanford and his wife traveled extensively, visiting over 80 countries around the world. Some of the travel was related to Mr. Sanford’s membership on the World Affairs Council. He was also president of the California Restaurant Association.
Mr. Sanford and his wife also supported an orphanage in Korea for many years and, for their generosity, a wing was named after them.
“They were just doing good in the world,” said their son.
Mr. Sanford is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Sanford of Pomona/Claremont; and by his 4 children, Nancy Hughes of Eugene, Oregon, Raymond Sanford of Irvine, Robert Sanford of Danville and Pat of Mercer Island, Washington.
A celebration of Mr. Sanford’s life was held at Mt. San Antonio Gardens on February 2, 2008.
