Market Basket Manager: “It's a Great Feeling”

Employees are working to fill store shelves at Market Basket after Arthur T. Demoulas bought the company and returned as CEO

Things are already getting back to normal at Market Basket as customers rushed into stores Thursday morning.

"We had customers at 6:30 this morning," said Jackie Ghobril, an employee of Market Basket for nine years. "They were trying to race each other- who is going to be here first. They just feel like it's home."

Some of the store shelves are still empty, but employees are working to get them filled again. The store manager at the Market Basket in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, says he expects store shelves to be filled by the end of the weekend.

“People are bringing in champagne bottles. Customers are bringing in balloons and donuts and food. It’s great. It's a great feeling,” Mike Riley, the store manager said.

"It's just a good feeling," said Cindy Stamp, a customer. "It's about food, but it's really not. It's about what he does for all our children and people that need jobs. I mean, that to me is the biggest. My son makes a living. Do you believe that? A living off of working in a warehouse. Who can say that?"

An agreement was reached late Wednesday night for ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas to buy the 50.5 percent of the company owned by Arthur S. Demoulas and his allies for $1.5 billion.

On Thursday, Arthur T. Demoulas spoke publicly for the first time about the dispute, thanking the employees and customers for their unwavering support.

"It's a wonderful thing when people pull together," Barbara Bissette, a long-time shopper said. "This is a private business so it's pretty incredible that the voice spoke so loudly."

The employees of Market Basket attribute the return of Arthur T. Demoulas to the support of the customers. Throughout the stores, there are several signs that thank the customers for supporting the employees. 

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