Protesters rally outside Jewel to support longtime, popular cashier

A local worker received a public showing of support on April 5 outside of her former workplace, Jewel-Osco , 1517 Sheridan Road, in Plaza del Lago.

Dozens of Wilmette residents and shoppers gathered in and around the plaza’s parking lot to back Ginger Johnson and ask for her reemployment.

Stacy Jo Haney, a friend of Johnson and organizer of the protest, said Johnson has been improving lives in Wilmette for more than 20 years. Showing up for her April 5 was instinctual, Haney said.

“It’s such a good thing when we love our community and the people in it,” she said, adding, “You got to stand up for people you care about.”

Johnson grew up in Wilmette and is a New Trier High School graduate. She’s been working as a cashier at Jewel since the early 2000s.

She joined the rally on April 5 and told The Record she was “overwhelmed with emotion” to see the turnout . She especially enjoyed seeing children and teens show up, saying she’s been their cashier for their entire lives.

“It was really touching to see that people care,” she said. “I’ve been serving the community for 23 years … and it was really touching to see everyone come out.”

Rallying around Johnson actually began on Nextdoor, a social media platform where her supporters — primarily Jewel shoppers — contributed hundreds comments and reactions across multiple posts in reaction to the news that she was dismissed from the store after 23 years.

Many of the comments encouraged supporters to contact Jewel officials to lodge a complaint, while others pledged not to return to the location until Johnson is rehired.

Jewel representatives did not return The Record’s messages by press time.

The social media activity turned the outcry toward a protest on April 5, and Lisa Nieman, of Wilmette, was happy to attend.

“People really really love Ginger,” said Nieman. “We just want her back there so much.”

The protest was held in the morning and saw guests come in and out throughout the length of the event. Haney estimated about 50 people showed up throughout the day.

Johnson lamented that she may never see many of her customers again. In an ideal world, she could return to her role at the Plaza del Lago Jewel, a job that she said “meant everything to me.”

“I love providing customer service, love getting (my customers) whatever they wanted,” she said. “I want them to feel special and know that when they walk into the store we’ll bend over backward to make sure things run smoothly.”

Johnson said she is working with her union, Local 881, to fight her dismissal and its fallout, but she has not heard from Jewel officials in the meantime.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.