Rosauers reopens store
Roof gave way under snow’s weight four months ago
The Five Mile Rosauers supermarket reopens this morning, almost exactly four months after snow collapsed the roof.
President Jeff Philipps said Friday that eager customers were already following workers through the unlocked doors, only to realize the store was not quite ready.
Most of the aisles have been restocked, he said, but managers wanted to wait until the last minute to bring in perishable goods.
He said the store layout was not changed during reconstruction. The cost, including installation of new equipment, will come in around $5 million, he said.
Philipps said overtime and weekend construction allowed the store, 1724 W. Francis Ave., to reopen two months ahead of schedule. The flooring was replaced and the walls repainted, but with the exception of the roof everything should look familiar, he said.
All 120 workers dispersed to other Rosauers stores or idled during the construction period will be back, said Philipps, adding that many forced to stay home were eager to return to work despite receiving 90 percent of normal pay.
He said today’s opening would be “soft,” with the grand opening Wednesday, four months to the day after the roof failure.
“We will definitely have some great specials for this store only, and one heck of a party,” Philipps said.