Henry D. Jackson Jr. left his children with many lessons: It’s better to own than rent, invest in your community and give grace to those less fortunate.
Most knew him as Mr. Hank, and he founded Hank’s Mini Market in 1997. He opened his doors just five years after the uprisings over police brutality decimated much of South LA. He also looked out for those in his community, two of his daughters told The LA Local, whether that was sourcing products from local vendors or letting folks buy items in his store on credit.
“I think that’s a really great lesson to give your kids. It doesn’t always have to be about what you’re getting back, sometimes it’s just enough to give to people and make their life a little easier, even in the small ways,” said Amy Jackson, one of Mr. Hank’s daughters.
Mr. Hank died Oct. 13, just two days after his 85th birthday.
Kelli Jackson, another daughter, said her father’s market served as a reflection of a community and its residents.
“We show up for each other and we care for each other, we encourage each other through good times and bad times. That’s the story of South Central, but that’s the story of Hank’s Mini Market,” said Kelli Jackson, who took over operations in 2018 when her father retired.
Over the course of 28 years, the community grew with the store and its family. Amy and Kelli Jackson both worked in the store as children and remembered their father being able to make friends with anyone and encouraging customers who came upon tough times.
Amy Jackson said the store had such a family vibe that locals often called her mother “mom,” and she and her sisters “twins.”
“His store became more than just a market, it stood as a community anchor,” Holly J. Mitchell, 2nd District supervisor, said at an LA County Board of Supervisors meeting last month.
That strong foothold in the community inspired Kelli Jackson when she returned to South LA after studying at Dillard University in New Orleans, then at the University of Southern California. She realized that taking the reins of the mini market could fulfill her dreams of promoting Los Angeles Black history through art. Jackson also saw it as an opportunity to provide healthier food options in South LA.
The market now offers healthy food options, nutrition workshops and art spaces, as well as stocking the snacks and beverages that shoppers were accustomed to seeing over the previous decades.
“You deserve to be able to shop in your neighborhood for all items,” not just quick snacks but also fruits and mineral water, she said. “There’s people who want to eat healthy, but don’t have access.”
While the mini market is temporarily closed so the family can grieve, Kelli Jackson said she plans to honor her father in the new year when the store reopens.
