EATON TOWNSHIP -- For the first time since a gunman shot and killed three store workers then himself last month inside Weis Markets near Tunkhannock, the store reopened for business at 6 a.m. Thursday.
Customers have been coming to the Weis store since its reopening, many of them just glad this community fixture is back open.
For 25 years, Weis Markets has become a staple of sorts in this part of Wyoming County.
Thursday morning, the store -- now completely redone -- opened for the first time in more than a month.
"We've been lifted up by the community of Tunkhannock," said Weis Markets spokesperson Dennis Curtin.
"I was just happy to be back. I think everybody needs to get back to normal," said Melanie Zeunen of Tunkhannock. "It's a tragedy what happened but any normal is better."
That tragedy is what closed this supermarket back on June 8 when three store employees were shot to death by a gunman who then killed himself. It happened overnight when the supermarket was closed.
During the renovations, Weis offered grief counseling and paid the 88 associates who work there.
"We know that our friends the victims would be thrilled to see us back in here, back to business," said Weis Markets deli manager Nicole Johnson.
Weis employees got a chance to tour the revamped store earlier this week and discuss ideas on how to remember their colleagues.
For the customers coming back, this was so much more than a regular shopping trip. It was a chance to catch up with those familiar faces they've gotten to see over the past 25 years.
"My daughter's friends work here. I know the people who work here. I know where everything's at," said Melanie Zeunen.
"I'm actually on my way to a college visit in Philadelphia right now but I did not let my mom leave Tunkhannock before I came to Weis today," said Mary Zeunen. "I wanted to see it. And I was really excited to have it back."
"We'll never forget, never forget walking through those doors. We're bigger badder, stronger. We're Weis, we're family," Johnson added.
The reopening was done without any fanfare. Weis Markets just wanted to help this community return to a sense of normalcy and get back to business as usual.
The Weis store in the Tunkhannock area has been around for 25 years. The decision to redo the entire supermarket and reopen the place is one that came with both positive feedback as well as some concerns from community members.
