NORTH ST. LOUS COUNTY, Mo. — Save A Lot in North Oak Plaza reopened this week where staff have been hard at work restocking shelves after smoke damage from next door ruined its food and products.

A business next door caught fire, causing smoke residue on all of the grocery store’s inventory and damage to an exterior wall, according to Bill Fant, director of operations for Leevers Supermarket.

“Everything in the store had to be discarded or was labeled not re-sellable, but could be donated. So, we donated that to a local food pantry here in the neighborhood,” he said.

The exterior wall that separates the two businesses prevented the fire from spreading to Save A Lot.

After weeks of clean up, the discount grocery store reopened Tuesday.

“The last five weeks have been difficult,” store manager Amber Moore said. “We had to throw everything away. I had to wipe the walls down, sweep the floors.”

“It was hard, but (the store) got new things, new items, a fresh look.”

The closure also impacted residents in the Northwoods community.

Moore said customers usually walk to the Save A Lot because most do not have their own transportation and are elderly.

As an alternative, residents had to take a bus to other area stores for their groceries.

“It was real hard on them,” Moore said.

Meat lead Anthony Hunt said it didn’t take him and his helper long to restock the refrigerators with freshly cut meat.

“Been doing it a long time, so it’s pretty easy,” he said.

Hunt is happy the store is back open.

“I’ve been here at this store for about eight years out of the time that I’ve been with the company between Save A Lot and Leevers,” he said. “So, this is like my little home store, so I’m glad to have it all back to normal.”

Work is still underway on the cinder block exterior wall melted from the fire. A temporary wall has been installed until it is fixed.

The stores next door are expected to be torn down, according to Fant.