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| Barnes & Noble Wilkes-Barre, before the tornado. | |
The Arena Hub Plaza Barnes & Noble store in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., which was badly damaged by a tornado in mid-June, will reopen before Thanksgiving, the Times Leader reported. The store has been closed since it was hit by an EF2 twister, but B&N said it is committed to serving the community and work is already underway to assess the damage and begin repairs to the store. All employees will keep their jobs and have been helping with the rebuilding process.
"The June 13 tornado in Wilkes-Barre was a shocking event, and we're so thankful that no one at our store was hurt," said Jim Lampassi, B&N v-p, real estate development. "Although the building sustained heavy damage, we immediately knew that we would rebuild and continue to serve the Wilkes-Barre community. The outpouring of support from the community was heartwarming, and we can't wait to reopen our doors. Although it will require a lot of work we are confident that the store will be open for business by Thanksgiving."
Patrick Abdalla, who was working at the B&N store when the tornado struck, recalled the experience for the Citizens' Voice.