Nearly seven months and a whole lot of cleanup later, Snyder’s Supermarket on Independence Avenue is reopening for the first time since the deadly arson fire that killed two Kansas City firefighters.
“After the wall came down and the windows blew out and debris came in, you couldn't hardly see across the store from all the dust and the glass and smoke,” said Snyder’s Supermarket owner Jerry James.
Loyal Snyder's customers reuniting with employees 6.5 months after damage from deadly fire forced store to close. pic.twitter.com/jq0sTZO5tn
— Brian Abel (@BrianAbelTV) May 4, 2016
The smoke, water damage, and spoiling of food that festered in the store for nearly three weeks forced the store to close and remodel.
“We really had this place professionally cleaned and a lot of things done but we could still smell a little smoke, so that’s when we had to go with the new ceiling and new lighting. We had to get rid of the big walk in coolers because they’re insulated. We also had to maintain the smoke smell so just about everything in this place is new now,” said James.
Related story: Arson dog combs scene of fire that killed two KCFD firefighters
James wasn’t able to get all of his perishable food like meat and dairy products out of the store because ATF investigators considered the store part of the crime scene.
“It was pretty foul,” said James.
“The ATF investigators started to kind of complain about the smell from the meat case and that was on the opposite side of the store, so if that gives you any inclination of the damage. It was terrible,” added James’ daughter and Snyder’s general manager, Jennelle James.
Health inspector just now arriving to give the ?? or ?? for Snyder's- store closed since damage from deadly fire pic.twitter.com/wkJ1vNcf6d
— Brian Abel (@BrianAbelTV) May 4, 2016
EMPLOYEE PAY
During the six and a half months since the fire, the employees of Snyder’s market, including two who lived in the burned down apartment building, still received a paycheck each week.
“It’s been rough but luckily Snyder’s and mister Jerry James offered our regular pay every week until we opened back up, because he knew we were loyal employees and we would come back and that’s what we did. We came back,” said 16-year Snyder’s employee Christine Spencer.
Jerry James says insurance covered much of the damage and helped with the employee payments.
LOYAL CUSTOMERS
Jennelle James says the support from the community has been overwhelming. Evidence of that showed hours before Snyder’s was expected to open its doors.
“They’ve got good employees, real good employees here. They’re just like family. I come here every day,” said 17-year customer James Beckner. “Everybody misses it. It’s been out for like seven months now. We really do miss it. All of us. I’m going get on the radio here and tell them ‘It's open! Come back to our Snyder’s!’ We’re just dying to get it open.”
The grocery store has passed the health inspection and is now open to the public. Snyder's Market is currently working on a memorial to honor the fallen firefighters.
Flowers at site of Independence Ave arson fire that killed @KCMOFireDept firefighters Leggio & Mesh #westandwithkcfd pic.twitter.com/omPbqgLRtz
— Brian Abel (@BrianAbelTV) May 4, 2016
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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
