Fresh Bucks Stories: Lenny’s Produce brings goods from around the world to North Seattle

At a busy intersection in Greenwood, umbrellas outside Lenny’s Produce shade piles of pomegranates, pears, and bananas from the sun. Inside, customers can find tropical fruits, Chinese eggplants, Anaheim chilis, choy varieties, sauces, baked goods, and more.

For owner Pheng Dao, that variety reflects the customers who have kept Lenny’s part of the neighborhood for decades.

“There are so many good memories, it’s impossible to pick one,” Pheng said. “Share kindness, and kindness is returned. There are always free smiles at Lenny’s.”

Lenny’s joined our Fresh Bucks program this summer alongside other Seattle neighborhood produce stands including Fruteria Sandoval in South Park, Lee’s Produce Market in Delridge, MacPherson’s Fruit & Produce on Beacon Hill, and Rising Sun Produce in Roosevelt.

Fresh Bucks, operated by our OSE team, is a City of Seattle healthy food benefit program. Fresh Bucks provides households $60 per month to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at more than 55 participating retailers, including produce stands. You can explore all Fresh Bucks retailers, from neighborhood grocers to supermarkets, on our website.

Lenny’s began as a garage next to 7-Eleven before the original owner, Lenny, turned it into a produce stand in the 1980s. In 1995, Pheng was looking for work and, drawing on his experience at a grocery store, took a leap of faith and bought the business.

While much has changed in the neighborhood over 32 years, Pheng and Lenny’s have remained part of the Greenwood community, serving loyal customers from many backgrounds. Pheng works in the store daily, receiving orders and stocking shelves. He considers the community his family.

“Many of my customers who shop here came with their parents when they were young,” Pheng said. “Now they come in as adults with their own kids, so we are seeing second and third generations of customers.”

*Lenny’s displays fresh fruits and vegetables outside the store, giving customers an easy way to browse seasonal produce as they shop.*

Pheng grew up in Bangkok, Thailand’s biggest city, and often thinks about his mom’s home cooking and the street food culture he misses. Those memories help inspire the wide range of ingredients he carries at Lenny’s.

The mix of products has changed over the years as more people from different cultures and backgrounds have moved to the neighborhood. Pheng regularly asks customers what they would like to see on the shelves, helping him stock foods familiar to the many communities that shop there.

The team behind the store is from those same communities. On any given day, you can hear staff chatting with customers in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Arabic, and Tagalog.

“People stop and talk, tell their stories, spend some time,” Pheng said. “They’ll tell you where they went on vacation, how their kids are doing, and want to know how we’re doing too.”

*Fresh Bucks customers can buy eligible canned, frozen, and dried fruits and vegetables, like some of the canned foods stocked at Lenny’s!*

Besides friendly service and a wide mix of products, Pheng says customers also appreciate Lenny’s prices, which are often lower than at many supermarkets. He works seven days a week and credits the store’s small space, few employees, and carefully selected foods for helping keep costs down.

Lenny’s also helps fill a gap for Fresh Bucks customers in north Seattle. The store joined Fresh Bucks this summer after customers shared that they wanted more places to shop in the area, giving some shoppers a closer option to buy fruits and vegetables without traveling as far or taking multiple buses.

Pheng also hopes people continue supporting independent stores like his. Smaller stores offer foods that may be harder to find at larger supermarkets, giving customers more choices and access to familiar ingredients. For Pheng, the personal connections that come with running a neighborhood produce stand matter just as much.

*Lenny’s also offers citrus and a variety of fresh greens.*

As fall begins, Pheng is excited about seasonal produce arriving from warmer areas like California. Persimmons and pomegranates are hitting the shelves now, while pomelos and other citrus will arrive later in the year.

Shop Lenny’s at 10410 Greenwood Ave N, Suite C, 9-6:30 PM. Monday-Friday and 9-6 PM Saturday-Sunday. They also accept SNAP-EBT. Keep up with the Fresh Bucks Stories series and check out our last spotlight on Mendoza’s Mexican Mercado in Greenwood on our blog.

If you’re interested in Fresh Bucks, you can apply for the Fresh Bucks waitlist. Eligible applicants are randomly selected for enrollment as spots become available. The City’s Assistance and Discount page can help you explore other affordability programs based on your income and household.

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