Tops to close Buffalo store for day in remembrance of May 14 massacre

Tops Friendly Market will be closing its doors temporarily on Sunday, May 14, in Buffalo, New York, in remembrance of the victims of a mass shooting at the store on the date a year ago. 

The racially motivated mass shooting left 10 Black people dead and three others injured. In February, the shooter, Payton Gendron, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

A Tops Friendly Markets news release said the daylong closure of the store is an effort to “support the community’s healing as Western New York remembers the victims, honors the survivors and reflects on Buffalo’s response and recovery in the aftermath of last year’s horrible acts of violence, racism and domestic terrorism.”

The store will reopen with regular business hours on May 15. It will also run a shuttle bus to provide access to its Elmwood Avenue location between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the closure. 

“One year later, our hearts still ache for the victims, survivors, their families and our community, and we reflect with gratitude for everyone who responded to this hateful, racist attack with abundant love for our neighbors,” said John Persons, president of Tops, in a statement. “Our collective healing is helped by the way people in Western New York came together and the way we continue to show up for each other. We are inspired by the ongoing resiliency of our associates, who have helped us carry forward the mission we’ve maintained since first opening this store: serving the needs of our community. As we remember the lives lost and altered on that day, we deepen our resolve to support and uplift the Jefferson Avenue community.”

Tops also announced it will install a memorial near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Landon Street later this year, and the company also is participating in the state’s May 14 Memorial Commission “to develop and advise on a structure to memorialize the life and legacy of the 10 Black residents who died in the white supremist attack.”

The grocer also has fully renovated the storefront and interior layout of the store, in addition to instituting additional security measures. Those renovations include new flooring, LED lighting and a memorial waterwall “for remembrance and reflection.”

“This has been an emotional time for our city, but most of all for the families and survivors impacted by the racially motivated mass shooting,” said Mayor Byron Brown in a statement. “I would like to thank Tops Friendly Markets President John Persons for his commitment to the community. I would also like to thank Diane Colgan, vice president of Tops Friendly Markets, for her participation in our 5/14 Remembrance Committee and for her help with organizing 5/14 Remembrance Weekend. We hope the weekend of prayer, remembrance and reflection will help the continued healing for all of us.”

The temporary store closure will also coincide with community events planned between May 12 and 15, which include a memorial service and a forum to discuss efforts to combat white supremacy and radicalization on social media.