SunStop stores in the Suwannee Valley region turned the key and opened for business the best they could at 6 a.m. Friday and did not look back. At some locations, their loyal customers were waiting on them. And in most areas, they were the only business open.
“We’re thankful our employees were there to work and we’re grateful to the public for being there for us,” said Lake City’s Brandon Beil, SunStop stores field marketing merchandiser for the east region. “We know some people had to get out and had places to go. We were there for them.”
SunStop operates 40 stores in the Suwannee Valley, most of them in Columbia and Suwannee Counties, two areas hardest hit by the swath cut by Category 4 Hurricane Helene late Thursday and during the wee hours of Friday.
Beil said of these 40 stores, 17 have generator power that operates the gasoline and diesel pumps, the inside drink coolers and allows the cash registers to accept debit cards. Residents who did not prepare before the storm and get fuel waited in long lines to purchase fuel Friday at several SunStop stores in Lake City. The wait was long, but calm and plenty of fuel for everyone.
“There are no shortages that I’m aware of,” Beil said. “The trucks are running.”
Beil said the stores open without generators are selling snacks and warm drinks, such as bottled water by the case or single warm drinks from the cooler units and will do the best they can as a cash business until the power is restored to the store. These stores are open shorter hours, Beil said, only open during daylight hours for safety reasons.
Generator stores are open at each individual store’s regular business hours.