SCRANTON, Pa. — As customers flocked to their usual grocery store in the Green Ridge Plaza in Scranton, they were met with yellow tape and a condemned sign on the front of the building.
"I saw the yellow tape, and I knew something had happened. Then I saw the green trucks, and I thought, 'Fire?' That's the only thing I could think of," Sherry Skramstad said.
Many rely on this Giant grocery store for their everyday necessities.
"The prices are good. I live relatively close. The selection is pretty good also, and the people are very nice," Jim Miller said.
But instead, the shelves will soon be cleared after smoke billowed out of the roof around 4:30 a.m. Monday.
Scranton Fire Chief John Judge says that flames broke out before the store opened for the day in a part of the building used for storage and near where hot food is made for sale in the front.
"They found some fire below the ceiling, below the roof line, inside, near the back of the store," Chief Judge said.
As the smoke that filled the building has now cleared, everything inside must now go.
"What a shame. That's a shame. I guess it'll be a while before it's back open again," Miller said.
For now, these loyal customers must now find a new store to frequent until everything can be repaired and restocked.
"I earn at least 40, 50 cents a month on a gallon of gas by shopping here, so that's invaluable," Skramstad said.
"It would be devastating if they didn't reopen for this community in this area," Miller added.