Black Friday shooting area seeks return to normalcy
Merchants, customers and neighbors supported one another Monday in the aftermath of the Black Friday shooting in which three people died.
Several businesses in the shopping center near the intersection of Centennial Boulevard and Fillmore Street reopened for the first time since being forced to close Friday because of the shooting.
The closings resulted in lost sales for merchants on their busiest weekend of the year, and delayed Black Friday discounts for customers. However, some stores offered the discounts Monday.
“We finally started getting back to a little bit of normal,” said Jun Aizu, owner of a Japanese restaurant.
Two nurses said they had lunch at the restaurant to support Aizu. They ate within sight of the still-active crime scene.
“I was a little apprehensive, said Deanna Beedle, one of the nurses. “I didn’t know if we were going to be shut off from this area, these businesses. It gave us goose bumps driving past, feeling the impact of this situation in our community.”
Michael Cuellar, a nearby resident, said he and his wife canceled their shopping trip to King Soopers the night of the shooting but were back Monday.
“My wife asked if I wanted to go to a different King Soopers, or the one right here?” he said. “We just kept our same routine, went in there and did a little bit of shopping.”
Merchants hope to recoup their lost sales from the weekend.
“The phone has been ringing off the hook — people wondering if we’re back up and running, and ready to go,” said Amanda Patti of the Joint chiropractors.
Being supportive during a difficult time is meaningful to Paul Lambert of Stines & Vines Liquors.
“Friday, we had customers calling to see how we were — which was very surprising,” he said. “You don’t realize the relationship you have with your customers until this (shooting) happens.”
