HILLSBOROUGH, N.B. – A grocery store in Hillsborough has opened its doors nearly eight months after heavy snow broke through its roof.
Terry Stafford runs the Freshmart and says the opening has been a long time coming.
“It’s important to get it opened because are looking to get it opened,” he said. “I’ve been here and I’ve been busy every morning and staying late.”
In March, heavy snow broke 31 of the 40 trusses holding up the roof.
Closing the store was a shock to the community. It was one the only grocery store in Hillsborough and the largest along Highway 114. After it closed, residents had to drive up to an hour to larger centres to buy food.
It also put 20 full-time and part-time employees out of a job.
But now that the grocery store has reopened and brought back jobs, people say it’s brought independence back to the rural area.
Michelle Harvey-Larson is president of the Albert County Chamber of Commerce and says a grocery store is the heart of its community.
“The grocery store in a small town is more than just a grocery store, it’s like a social centre,” she said. “We have a pride of being self sufficient or trying to prove we are self sufficient.”
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