By CHRIS SURPRENANT
Arts Editor
Published August 30, 2011
For 37 years, one cashier at the front register has served more customers at the local Price Chopper supermarket than perhaps any other ringer – ever. Nancy Thorsen, a cashier at the Madison Avenue store is well known by many customers, and always has a kind word to say. Her thoughtful personality goes well beyond register #9 – her attitude carries over in different facets of her life.
After working at the store for almost four decades, people of the community have come to know Thorsen because she takes the time to know them. She has made the acquaintance of both college students and residents that have lived here for years. With many of them, she is on a first-name basis.
“Technically, they’re acquaintances, but I feel they’re friends,” Thorsen said. “Price Chopper is like a neighborhood store, I like that fact.”
Thorsen is somewhat of a neighborhood gem. Her relationship with the customers is comparable to a day when everyone knew each other, and everyone cared. Thorsen is just herself, and nothing more, which is how she wants it. It is this honesty that really strikes a connection with customers. “What you see is what you get,” she said.
After working at the store for so long, she likes to make every day count. She tries to have a positive outlook on life, and at the end of the day, she lives by her favorite saying: “it is what it is.”
Thorsen’s magnanimous personality resonates with many. Customer Harold Becker said, “She’s the best in the store.”
Where does such a personal connection come from? Born in the small town of Copake Falls, about an hour southeast of Albany, Thorsen left home at 18 to attend Albany Business College. Copake is still a big part of her.
“I’m very simple. I’m a small town girl, and it carries through with everything that I do,” she said.
Family plays a huge role in her life. After college, she worked at Albany Medical Center for a number of years, then she met her husband John. They have been married for 43 years. When her children were born, Thorsen started at Price Chopper, working weekends and weeknights from 7 p.m. to midnight – that way, she could take care of the children during the day.
Though her schedule was often busy, Thorsen always loved the outdoors. Combined with an interest in traveling, she and her family often took annual vacations. For 40 years, the Thorsen family ventured with close friends, “a second family,” up to Maine for an annual camping trip, a place that became like another home to them. These outdoor trips, Thorsen said, were great experiences, especially for her kids and she has a lot of fond memories of those outings.
“Before gas went up, I used to like day trips too,” she joked.
Now that her children are grown and have kids of their own, Thorsen focuses more on her varied interests, which still includes her family. She absolutely adores her four grandkids. The most recent addition to her family is her 10- month-old granddaughter who is just, “the cutest little thing, just a joy.”
Along with her love of family, Thorsen recently found a passion for cooking. Lately, she has a particular penchant for Italian food. From her love of cooking, she has also found that she enjoys reading cooking magazines for different recipes, or just for entertainment. Ever-curious, she often observes and comments on what customers are buying, just to get a new idea or two, and maybe even swap a recipe once in a while.
Thorsen claims cooking is just a hobby, and she remains modest in her accomplishments in the kitchen. However, her success as a baker has not gone unnoticed. While her kids were growing up, she would often bring baked goods wherever she went. “Mrs. Thorsen’s brownies” were always in high-demand among her children’s friends.
Beyond baking, Thorsen enjoys being active. When she lived in the neighborhood, she loved to walk the campus of The College of Saint Rose and take in the beauty of the campus.
Her active lifestyle goes beyond the occasional walk or two. A surprise hobby of Thorsen’s is that she loves to dance. She said that although she may not be totally in-tune with today’s musical trends, for dancing she has always felt, “the faster, the better.”
Thorsen, like many, has had her ups and downs in life. From her experiences, she has come to value the little things. A very dear friend advised her to “appreciate what you have.” Thorsen is grateful for what life has given her, even if it has not turned out exactly as planned. Thorsen realizes that this is the case for a lot of people. So, when someone comes through her line at Price Chopper that may not being having the greatest of days, she always tries to make it just a little bit brighter.
And, there are days when customers may return the gesture. Working the register for so long, Thorsen has met some fairly interesting people. About 15 years ago, she remembers meeting a member of the Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl team. Though she can remember what he was wearing, including his ring, she cannot remember his name.
Over the years, Thorsen has seen a lot of change in the neighborhood, mostly for the good. She knows that although there have been some problems, the area is still a nice place to be. Since her time in the Pine Hills, she has found that she enjoys all the little shops along Madison Avenue, visiting Washington Park, and even events such the annual Tulip Festival.
Nancy Thorsen has a genuine interest in what is going on in the lives of those around her. It does not matter if it is a stranger she meets for the first time, or a member of her own family, she is willing to lend an ear, or offer a story herself.
Longtime customer Sam Langell offered a testament to her influence: “Ninety-nine percent of the reason why my wife and I come here is because of Nancy. She knows everybody. She’s my favorite.”
