Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo's East Side community is expected to re-open. While no concrete re-opening date has been set yet, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is confident that the store will re-open as soon as it possibly can.
"Tops President John Persons has said that Tops plans on re-opening the supermarket," said Mayor Brown on Tuesday. "I know that many members of the community would like to see the supermarket re-open. Many survivors of the mass shooting would like to see the supermarket re-opened. I've been able to speak to Mr. Persons about this on a number of occasions. I think that Tops will move as quickly as they can to re-open the store, recognizing that there are 1000s of people in that surrounding area that rely on the supermarket for their groceries, as well as to fill their prescriptions."
A few community members raise concern with the emotional scar that the shooting left on the community and for that reason they think the Tops should not re-open or they should open another supermarket elsewhere.
"I know that there are those that feel that way, they are not in the majority. We have to really look at the needs of the majority of members of the community. We have to look at the concerns and wishes of the survivors of this mass shooting tragedy," said Mayor Brown.
The Mayor also discussed that aside from the $1 billion going to the Kensington Expressway and money for other projects, there will be more state money coming to Buffalo and potentially more federal money.
"It's my understanding that more money from the state will be directed to the east side as well," said Mayor Brown. "Beyond that, I think in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy that has destroyed lives and separated families from their loved ones, the federal government needs to come in with additional resources for the East Side of Buffalo. Just like what what would happen after a hurricane or a tornado or natural disaster that devastates communities, there is money through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I think there should be significant federal assistance coming to Buffalo in the aftermath of this act of domestic terrorism that impacted the East Side of Buffalo."
In regards to another potential location, Mayor Brown mentions other stores where the community can do there shopping, including Aldi's on Main Street, The Broadway Market on Broadway and the Wegman's on Amherst. However, Mayor Brown is hoping that in the light of this tragedy, corporations will open their eyes to Buffalo and realize that money is to be made in the city by investing in the community.
"I am all for more corporate investment on the side of Buffalo and have been pushing for that for more than 20 years. I think out of this horrible tragedy, the corporate community will be awaken to the fact that there is a market and money to be made on the East Side of Buffalo. I would love to see other supermarket investment. I would love to see other corporate investment of services and goods in that area of the city," said Mayor Brown.
More remarks from Mayor Brown can be heard in the player below:
