Tornado hit town gets grocery back

Tornado hit town gets grocery back

	Published : Fri, 20 Jul 2007 23:01 By : Agencies Print this Story

GREENSBURG, Kan. (AP) - The tornado-stricken town of Greensburg is getting its grocery store back.

Dillons, the community's only grocery business before the deadly storm two months ago, said Friday it plans to reopen. Kwik Shop has agreed to be part of the project, which will be a combination grocery and convenience store.

'The community of Greensburg will rebuild, and we will be there with them during the rebuilding efforts and beyond,' Dillons Food Stores President John Bays said in a news release. 'We look forward to serving our customers in Greensburg and Kiowa County again so they can continue to do their daily shopping in their hometown.'

Kwik Shop already has reopened its convenience store in Greensburg, and it will continue operating while crews work on converting it to a combination grocery and convenience store.

Dillons spokeswoman Sheila Lowrie said the conversion is expected to be finished by the end of September, and then Dillons will work on expanding the store. She said it's not clear when the whole project will be done because those plans are being finalized.

At the new store, customers will be able to buy fresh meat and produce, frozen foods and other groceries, while also gassing up their cars and getting other convenience-store-related services.

Both Dillons and Kwik Shop are based in Hutchinson and owned by Kroger Co. of Cincinnati.

'Our commitment and roots in Kansas run deep, and we believe in Greensburg,' Kroger Chairman David B. Dillon said.

The May 4 tornado wiped out more than 90 percent of the south-central Kansas town of 1,400 residents and killed 10 people.

Dillons, which opened in 1967, was among the buildings that were destroyed. Residents and business owners wondered if the grocery store would rebuild -- a special concern considering it was the only business of its kind in the town.

Politicians, including Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and Rep. Jerry Moran, praised the decision.

'It is my hope that with the reopening of this grocery store, it will further inspire others in the rebuilding of the town,' Roberts, R-Kan., said.