KOLOA — Sueoka Store employees were busy dusting and restocking the shelves Friday afternoon, shaping up the shop after a traffic mishap the day before.
In the early hours of Thursday, a silver Chevrolet Trailblazer came crashing through the front facade of the shop, just missing the office, Manager Thomas Awong said.
Two employees were in the back warehouse during the 3:11 a.m. event, Awong said, and neither was injured. The car, which barreled through the fronting rock wall and register counters, found its way on top of the produce island.
Corporate store inspectors were set to arrive later that Thursday morning, an event employees had anxiously cleaned up the store hoping for full marks. But when that call came in, that changed.
“It was brutal,” Awong said.
But being in low spirits was never in the plans. Employees went into action Thursday and Friday cleaning up the store. For the last few days, Awong said, customers have called with well-wishes. With the help of Shioi Construction, plywood went up to cover the destroyed wall and fixtures were redone.
“It’s our Sueoka and ABC culture,” Awong said. “I’m blessed to have these people that’re dedicated to what they do.”
Saturday afternoon, Sueoka reopened after an early-morning emergency installation of fixtures, and the store will be open starting today for its regular hours, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Sabrina Bodon, editor, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
