With free food and plenty of community leaders, the officials of the local Piggly Wiggly conducted its official re-grand opening Wednesday, which was about nine months after a blazing fire nearly destroyed the business.

The local store opened in December after six months of restoration following the early morning fire.

Anthony Conerly, manager of the local Piggly Wiggly located on 16th Avenue, said he is “just glad to be able to welcome our customers back home.”

Local officials with the City of Laurel, the Jones County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Authority of Jones County commended the business for re-investing in Laurel and Jones County.

In June 2009, dumpsters filled with perishable items and other things from the local Piggly Wiggly sat in front of the store as officials and insurance adjusters worked to determine the amount of damage from a fire inside the building.

The early morning electrical fire occurred around 2 a.m. that Monday, June 8th, resulting in most of the items in the store being damaged.

Because of the fire, all the stores located in the Westland Mart Shopping Center on 16th Avenue — excluding Pasquales, which is on the opposite end of the shopping center from Piggly Wiggly — were temporarily closed, according to officials.

However after a start time, the other stores in the shopping center reopened.

Meanwhile, Piggly Wiggly officials worked to restore the local store, which has been located in Laurel since 1969.

Conerly said in June that officials were already planning to reopen the store.

Immediately after the fire, Conerly said, he worked to place the local store’s 37 employees at other locations during the Laurel store’s time of closure.

Pete Wilkes, district manager for Food Giant, said Wednesday that the company “appreciates the community and the support it has given to the store.”

Jimmy Graham, another district manager, agreed.

“We are glad to be here,” Graham said. “Everything looks great and we just appreciate all the people here in Laurel and the surrounding area.”

Conerly said Wednesday that although this is a newly-renovated building, the store’s concept has not changed.

“We have made some additions to the store and things are looking good,” the proud store manager said. “We are welcoming our customers back home, where we will continue to provide that good down home service.”

Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack along with City Councilman Trey Chinn and City Councilwoman Willie L. Evans attended Wednesday’s event, which was hosted by the Jones County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Authority of Jones County.

Also as a part of the ceremony, the chamber presented the store with a framed certificate and their first dollar for the grand re-opening.

Several people attending the event talked about how glad they were that the store is now open with more to offer its customers.

“I really missed the store after the fire,” Evans said. “This is a nice neighborhood store that I enjoy coming in to shop.”

Hilliard William (H.W.) Taylor, an 80-year-old local resident and longtime Piggly Wiggly shopper, said he came out to the event because he “enjoys coming to the store.”

“This is my favorite store,” said Taylor, who has been shopping at the local grocery store for about 20 years. “When the fire occurred, I felt like I had lost my store. So, when they re-opened I was very glad.

“I like the new store and the fact that they have more variety and better quality,” Taylor added. “They have courteous employees and I just enjoy coming.”

Faye Jackson, a member of the EDA Board, talked about the store’s addition of a delicatessen.

Conerly said the deli is a good addition to the renovated store.

“We are now a bigger, brighter and better store,” Conerly said with a smile. “We have a nice beautiful store with the addition of a delicatessen, which we are expecting to be a big plus to this location. We now also offer our customers more shopping time.”

The store hours will be 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.