NICHOLS, SC (WBTW) – Sunny Mart in Marion County reopened on Monday after being closed because of damage from Hurricane Florence.
Sunny Mart Operations Manager, Richard Little, told News13 the store closed for three months when Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, and again when Florence hit in September.
“We got flooded in Matthew two years ago,” he said. “We were closed for about three months, and had to do a complete tear out and rebuild,” he continued. “We opened back up, then of course 23 months later Florence comes through, and we have to go through the same process.”
Many residents consider the store a staple in the community.
“With no Sunny Mart there’s no Nichols,” said Connie Ray Collins who has lived in Nichols for 53 years.
Little said the store opened more than 30 years ago, and is the only convenience store in the area.
“This is the backbone of the community,” Collins said about the store.
Collins said it was difficult for residents in the community when the store had to close because of the water damage.
“It was awful,” Collins said. “We had to go all the way to Mullins the back way just to get anything.”
Little said he was happy to open the store again to the people who need it.
“We’re tickled to be back open,” Little told News13. “I think the community is too. The community kind of needs us, and we need them. It’s a win-win situation.”
