Click here to subscribe today or Login.
TUNKHANNOCK — Amid angst and anticipation, the Weis Market that was the scene of a June 8 triple murder-suicide reopened Thursday morning.
Weis spokesman Dennis Curtin said the company never considered closing the now-renovated store, which has been a part of the Tunkhannock-area community for 25 years.
“We recognize the event of June 8 was a tragic and senseless act of violence,” Curtin said shortly after the store opened at 6 a.m. “But this is about getting back to serving this community. Our customers have told us that they want their store back. We never intended to close it down for good.”
The store had been closed to customers since authorities said gunman Randy Stair, 24, of the Dallas area, took two pistol-grip shotguns to work, blocked the exits and began shooting shortly before 1 a.m. June 8. He killed three co-workers — firing 59 rounds that also wrecked merchandise, counters and other parts of the interior — before turning the gun on himself.
The victims were co-workers Victoria Todd Brong, 25, of Factoryville; Brian Hayes, 47, Springville; and Terry Lee Sterling, 63, South Montrose.
Curtin said all 88 Weis employees at the market are returning to work — including Kristin Newell, the woman who stared the gunman in the eye, then escaped to call for help.
“She will return to work soon, but I’m not sure of her schedule,” Curtin said of Newell. “She is a part of our store team.”
Newell told investigators Stair glared at her at one point during his rampage, but for some reason decided to spare her, court records show.
During an interview with state troopers, Newell said she was labeling products inside the store with headphones on when she heard gunshots. She recalled seeing Stair shoot Brong while she was lying on the floor.
While the store was closed for the past five weeks, Curtin said Weis has continued to pay its employees. After the shootings, he said, all employees were offered grief counseling to help them cope with the tragedy.
On Monday, Curtin said the employees were invited to the store for a breakfast and a tour to see the renovation.
“The store has been completely remodeled,” Curtin said. “We have painted it, there are new cases and shelves, and every item that was sold in the store has been replaced. We wanted to welcome our associates back, and they are anxious to return to serving their customers.”
‘Never show fear’
Gene Niemiec, a longtime Weis customer from Tunkhannock, was glad the store was reopening.
“We missed it terribly,” Niemiec said while waiting in the parking lot for the store to open. “They have things here that other stores don’t have. And we know the employees and they know us.”
Niemiec said what happened June 8 should not be a reason to close the store. That said, Niemiec acknowledged he was feeling a little nervous about entering Weis on Thursday.
“Sometimes, I think about all the times I’ve been in there when hardly anybody else was around,” Niemiec said. “This could have happened when I was there. I don’t want to show fear — you can never show fear to people who would do something like that.”
Niemiec was joined by his daughter, Melanie Zeunen, and his granddaughter, Mary Zeunen, who wanted to see what the remodeled store looked like.
“This kind of thing never happened around here before,” Niemiec said. “I’m not sure what it will feel like when I walk in there.”
Melanie Zeunen said she shopped in the store on the day of the shootings.
“I walked through those aisles,” she said. “I’m glad it’s reopening. I come here almost every day.”
As the 6 a.m. opening approached Thursday, several cars were in the parking lot, with most belonging to workers.
“No employees have quit,” spokesman Curtin said. “They all care about each other. When we got together with them, we talked about everything. We are always there for each other.”
Curtin said there would be no fanfare for the reopening.
On his way back to his car, Niemiec said he was impressed with the store’s new look.
“It looks perfect,” he said. “But it still felt a little weird. I have butterflies in my stomach.”
Niemiec said he did a little shopping and planned to return later with his wife.
“Like I said, the store looks great — everything looks new. But I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to being in there.
“I may always feel a little leery.”
