For the Klein family, business has always been about more than what’s on the shelves. It’s about people, connection, and a commitment that spans generations.
“Originally, our family started out in the general grocery business in 1925 with a store in Fallston,” said Marshall Klein, the president of the family business. “We’ve grown from that single location to nine stores today.”
That growth hasn’t changed the family’s approach. “We are hands-on, value-driven operators,” Marshall said. “The culture of our business is to be front-line focused.” Vice President Sarah Klein agrees. “It makes you feel really in touch with the community,” she said. “We want to participate in the community, not just run businesses in it.”
That connection shows up visibly in the products that shoppers can find in the Klein's stores. “Our product assortment engages with the community,” said vice president David Klein. “You can find local products made right here in Harford County and throughout Maryland. We’ve been a launchpad for businesses that are right here.”
Giving back to the community is also a high priority for the family-run business. Through the Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland Charitable Fund, the family focuses on three core areas: health, education, and hunger. “It is a core value of our family that we support the people who support us,” Marshall said.
That commitment to community stems from their family’s fundamental beliefs in the importance of supporting the foundational needs of people in the county. “My grandmother believed you shouldn’t have to go to Baltimore to have good health care,” Sarah said, referencing Shirley Klein’s role in shaping the Upper Chesapeake Health System. “Everything that was instilled in us was to give back to the community.”
Programs like ShopRite’s Partners in Caring have helped expand that impact. “It’s accelerated our ability to help,” Marshall said. “Being part of a cooperative gave us a level of scale we didn’t have as single operators.” That approach allows each store and its teams to give in ways that feel meaningful locally. “We give them the ability to choose charities that resonate with the staff,” Marshall said. “Our associates are part of the communities we serve, and they can identify needs and respond to them directly.”
The family’s commitment has also extended into behavioral health, an area they saw as a need in the community, which was the impetus for the creation of the Klein Family Center. “There wasn’t really a facility able to address that need,” Marshall said. “Now there’s somewhere people can go when they don’t know what to do.”
For David, the impact is something he sees every day. "I get stopped equal amounts on the behavioral health center as I do the supermarket,” he said. “It’s really humbling -- the amount of support, recognition, and acknowledgment.”
Even as the business continues to grow, the Kleins are focused on balancing tradition with innovation. “Our uncle Michael is very fond of retelling our family’s history,” David said. “It keeps us grounded and informs how we move forward.”
At the same time, the Kleins are intent on moving forward. “We’re from a very entrepreneurial family and some of that is taking risks and trying new things,” Marshall said. “We take into consideration what the customer wants and needs. We help people save money and make their shopping experience better.”
Relationships in the store are also shaped by the Klein's approach. “Our associates are essentially part of our extended family,” Marshall said. “When you walk into one of our stores, it’s like walking into a house.”
As the family moves forward, they are focused on continued growth, but not for its own sake. “If we can grow, our ability to impact the community grows,” David said. “That’s what excites us.”
We want to participate in the community, not just run businesses in it.