Eric Quinn Hargrove

Straddling the divide between Hollywood and Hancock Park is a Pavilions grocery store that has everything -- a bakery, an organic produce section, a deli, a Panda Express, a small florist, groceries and a host of employees, including Hargrove, a grocery checker and aspiring actor marking his time until his big break in theater, TV or the movies.

In training: “I took drama classes in high school, was a communications major at Cal State Fullerton; my specialty was TV and film. I’ve continued taking commercial acting classes as well.”

To his credit: “I’ve appeared on ‘Sister Sister’ and in a TV miniseries called ‘Mutiny’ directed by Kevin Hooks. And I’m actively looking to do some short films.

“Of course, the stage is important, but this is a film and television town, so that’s my focus. But I did do Miguel Pinero’s ‘Short Eyes’ recently. It was an ensemble cast, set in a penitentiary, and I played Omar Blinker.”

Confessions: “I have my [framed] head shot posted at my check stand, right next to the cash register. That way I let people -- people in the business -- know that I’m an actor without having to probe and pry. They look at my photo and say, ‘Oh, you’re an actor!’ It’s passive advertising. That’s how I got the role in the stage production of ‘Short Eyes’ -- the producer came in to get water and saw the head shot. He said, ‘I have this role; it’s the one last role that I have to cast. Would you be interested in coming down and reading for it?’ ”

Philosophy: On being a grocery checker: “It beats serving tables. You’re not intruding on someone’s meal or personal discussion. And when I’m at the store, I come to work as myself -- I don’t put on any pretense.”

The perks: “The best part of the job is meeting people in the industry, like Patrick Swayze, Gary Coleman, Billy Zane, Jasmine Guy and others.”

-- Carolyn Patricia Scott