TUCSON, Ariz. — Steve Burd, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Safeway, visited the store here where shootings made national headlines in January.

Local news sources reported that Burd was on business in Phoenix this week and made a point to stop by the Safeway in Tucson where U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others were shot in January.

Burd lauded employees and local residents for staying with the store after the tragedy, noting that it was one of the best-performing in the company. "This store and this community has been through a lot," Burd told KOLD, a local television station. “There's a bonding that takes place, and I would bet the people who were here and the employees will be friends for life.”