BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tops on Jefferson Avenue in East Buffalo commemorated the two-month anniversary of the racist mass shooting with a ceremony and tour of the renovated store, with plans to reopen Friday, July 15.

The ceremony, held in a newly-paved parking lot in front of a brand new gray facade, honored victims with a reading of a poem by Buffalo Poet Laureate Jillian Hanesworth, a moment of silence, and words from Tops executives and local elected officials.

“To the entire Tops management and associates and everybody who works there, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your response to this tragedy on my people,” said Majority Leader Crystal Peoples Stokes. “Thank you. Thank you very much. And I never doubted for one moment that we wouldn’t stand here today and reopen this store.”

The newly-renovated Tops has a new sales floor layout, new LED lighting, increased professional security coverage inside and outside, an additional emergency exit and an evacuation alarm system.

Mike Patti, Tops regional vice president, said 75% of that store's staff chose to return to work, some of which transferred to different stores.

Cashier Jordan Osborn said he was apprehensive about returning to work at first, but once he saw the renovations, he felt much better and looks forward to working with the community again.