Son of Tom Leonard's Farmer's Market owner named store's president

The son of the namesake of Tom Leonard's Farmer's Market has been named the Short Pump retailer's president.

T.J. Leonard, who also is the grandson of well-known retailer Stew Leonard, Sr., will oversee daily operations, planning, and finance, taking the helm from his father, Tom, who has been the sole president since the store's opening in 1991.

“T.J. might have been born into retailing, but he’s spent the past 20 years learning from some of the best grocers in the industry," Tom Leonard said. "I am confident T.J. will be an excellent leader for our 65 team members at Tom Leonard’s, and I know our customers will continue to be delighted by our store’s fresh offerings and customer service.”

T.J. Leonard began his experience at his father's store by merchandising pumpkins and Christmas trees in the store's parking lot and gained construction experience during the store's build-out. He spent summers during his college years working in various departments, from cashier and receiver to fish cutter and fresh mozzarella maker.

Prior to his new role, T.J. Leonard had served as the senior director of produce and floral for Sprouts in Atlanta, overseeing 91 stores across 11 East Coast states since 2021. He previously served as vice president of merchandising at Tom Leonard’s and held positions at Safeway and Sprouts Farmer’s Market.

" I can’t wait to see the customers who have been shopping with us since I was a teenager, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with our longtime team members," T.J. Leonard said.

The store is located at 4150 Tom Leonard Drive in Glen Allen.