Video: Grocery Store Brings New Life To West Alabama Town

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HACKLEBURG, ALABAMA (WCBI) -There are new signs of life for a West Alabama town, that took a direct hit more than 4 years ago from a killer tornado.

As WCBI’s Allie Martin reports, the town of Hackleburg has reached a rebuilding milestone .

It may have been the hottest day of the year so far, but that didn’t stop hundreds from coming to this grand opening.

The tiny town of Hackleburg, Alabama has been without a grocery store since April 27th [2011], when an EF 5 tornado devastated the area.

“I’ve said before, Tuscaloosa got hit hard, but you could drive a mile or two, and go sit down at a restaurant, here, to get anything, you had to drive 20 miles,” said Boyd Pate, who runs the Pepsi Bottling Company in nearby Winfield.  Pate is glad to see Hackleburg back in business.

This new, 16,000  square foot grocery store makes life more convenient for residents.

“I have to go to Hamilton every now and then and I live five miles from here or Phil Campbell so I can shop either place so this will be a lot different,” said Customer Dina Hoard.

The opening of this market is definitely a celebration for the entire area.  In all, there’s about $13 million  in ongoing construction projects as Hackleburg rebuilds.

Work is progressing on the new high school, and there is a new police station and town hall, all built with grants and a lot of teamwork.

“This is the most resilient people I’ve ever seen in Hackleburg, Alabama.  We have come together, worked together and it means everything,” said Hackleburg Mayor Whitey Cochran.

Festivities continue this weekend with an open house at the new town hall and police headquarters.

There was a moment of silence at today’s ceremony honoring the memory of 18 people who lost their lives in the 2011 tornado.