John Renteria is the fresh, friendly face behind Islandz five nights a week.
By Peter Celauro
Assistant A&E Editor
It’s 11 a.m. on a Thursday, and John Renteria just woke up. Yawning, he pours himself a cup of coffee and scans his extensive DVD collection for the perfect movie. A splash of cream and a spoonful of sugar later, he plops onto the couch and gets settled for one of his favorites of late: “Spider-Man.”
Two hours or so later, the rolling end credits prompt Renteria to check his watch. It’s 1:15 p.m.: time to leave for work.
During the hour-long commute from San Pedro, hearing the Stones and Aerosmith on the radio keeps him smiling and humming all the way to the coast of Malibu. Taking in the wave of the gate guard as he pulls onto campus, Renteria looks at the glimmering Pacific and smiles to himself.
It’s going to be a good day.
Renteria works behind the counter at the Islandz snack bar in the Sandbar, and since starting this position he’s begun each day the same way. Islandz doesn’t even open until 4 p.m., so Renteria has every morning free to do whatever he likes (he loves watching movies and owns about 800 DVDs). He leaves Pepperdine each night at midnight, returning home to eat dinner and watch programs he taped for himself that day.
“It took some getting used to, and at first I didn’t think I’d like it,” he said of the unusual hours. “But it’s different, and I’m always for that.”
The real joy of Renteria’s days, however, is between 4 p.m. and midnight.
“I wanted this job up here,” he said. “I love the hours, the people are nicest up here and you can’t beat the scenery. Especially on a clear day when you can actually see Catalina (Island). I just enjoy what I do.”
On the job, Renteria is a whirlwind of movement behind the counter. During the 30 minutes of our interview, Renteria excused himself five times to tend to customers, sometimes as many as eight in a row. He greeted each patron with a smile and a chipper voice. Many of the people who ordered didn’t even have to tell him their drink requests; he was grinding the ice or packing the coffee grounds by the time they reached the counter.
Renteria has worked in food service for as long as he can remember.
“I worked Thrifty’s, Taco Bell, Straw Hat … I just like working with people,” he said.
Then, in 1997, he started working at Pepperdine. He has occupied almost every food service position on campus since then.
“I started at the HAWC, then moved up to the law school for three years,” he said. “Then it was the Oasis, the cafeteria for a little while, and now here.”
Though the Sandbar is his most exciting location so far, Renteria says there are times when business is slow. Aside from crossword puzzles and reading, there just isn’t much to do in the newly-renovated mailroom on lonely Friday nights.
Still, when there are fresh faces in line and friends to be made, the server said, the time spent waiting pays off.
“Everybody’s so easygoing here,” he said. “They’re never down, except maybe for around midterms and finals. They know my attitude, so they don’t give me any attitude.”
Renteria’s amiability wasn’t learned on the job; much of it stems from extensive family time in an expansive family. With 50 people in their immediate family circle alone, the Renterias typify a large, sociable Mexican family. And most of the server’s relatives live nearby.
“We do all get along,” he chuckled. “We’ve all got our own things to do, but during the holidays, you can never break us up. It’s definitely a kick, to get all those people in one house.”
Renteria said working at Pepperdine and commuting from San Pedro is a great setup, as it allows him to remain close to his family and work in an environment he likes. The only part of his job he doesn’t like, in fact, is the commute.
“It’s a longer drive in the rain,” he said. “People drive crazy in the rain.”
Despite the time in the car, Renteria says he’s not unhappy; this is his favorite job, thanks to the students.
The feeling is mutual. Jill Quye, a junior organizational communications major, has been friends with Renteria since her first smoothie three years ago.
“John’s always been so friendly, I can’t imagine anyone who couldn’t be his buddy,” she said. “He’s got such a great attitude; the Sandbar wouldn’t be the same without him.”
Junior business major Austin Lewis agreed.
“When you hear the word ‘smoothie,’ you think John Renteria,” Lewis laughed. “Half the time I only buy something because I want to say hi.”
For Renteria, that’s just fine. As long as there are smiling faces in line at the counter, he’ll be happy.
“It’s just fun serving the students here,” he said, wiping the counter after handing a satisfied customer her latte. “If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t be here.”
He smiles, waving as the girl sips her way to class.
“The students make it worthwhile.”
March 27, 2003
