The Hannaford in Gardiner will reopen later this month after flooding from the December wind storm caused “considerable damage.”
It is just one among many businesses in this small city on the Kennebec River that sustained significant flood damage as rain from the Dec. 18-19 storm caused the river to swell well past its banks.
The Hannaford will reopen at 7 a.m. March 27. It will be using temporary cases and shelves, which will be replaced with permanent fixtures in the coming months, to allow the store to reopen as quickly as possible, the supermarket chain said Wednesday.
Hannaford is reopening the Gardiner store earlier than anticipated. In February, it was expected to open sometime in April, according to the Kennebec Journal.
Mainers in and around Gardiner will be able to buy the same fresh food as before, and Hannaford will continue to operate a full-service pharmacy at the location, according to the supermarket chain.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to the entire Gardiner community for their patience, understanding and loyalty while we prepared to reopen our doors,” Rob Meader, the manager of the Gardiner Hannaford, said Wednesday. “Reopening the store this quickly would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the many associates and community members who contributed to the effort, including the tremendous partnership of the City of Gardiner. We very much look forward to welcoming customers back to the store.”
The wind storm that hit Maine on Dec. 18 left a path of destruction in its wake, flooding dozens of communities as they were inundated with several inches of rain. That rain falling on already saturated soil coupled with winds that reached speeds up to 93 mph in some communities brought down trees and power lines, leaving more than 420,000 without electricity and heat by the time the storm subsided. Power was restored to most Mainers by Christmas, about a week after the storm hit.
At least four people were killed during the storm. One man was killed by a falling tree in Fairfield, another man was killed by a falling tree in Windham and two women were swept away by flood waters in Mexico.
Gov. Janet Mills declared a state of emergency on Dec. 19, and President Joe Biden issued a federal disaster declaration on Jan. 31.
The storm caused an estimated $20 million in damage to roads, bridges, buildings and other public infrastructure across the state, according to the governor’s office.
The Gardiner Hannaford will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, while the pharmacy will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
