The Town of Salisbury, N.B., is getting its only grocery store back. Walker’s Your Independent Grocer will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday after fire destroyed the business on Sept. 28, 2025. Store owner James Walker said the community’s wait is over. “They’ve gone without now for eight-and-a-half months. The convenience of having their own local grocery store means a lot to these folks,” said Walker. “It’s not only a grocery store; it’s a place to meet.” Walker and his wife Willow purchased the store just six days before the fire. In that short span, Walker said he often saw people in the aisles chit-chatting and catching up. “Folks like the small grocery store versus the large corporate, I find. It’s easier to find things, it’s a shorter trip,” said Walker. Walker said a lot of planning went into the quick rebuild and he’s grateful for the independent grocer group through Loblaw that helped make it happen. “It’s mind-blowing really, when I think about it,” he said. “Without them this wouldn’t have been possible.” Salisbury Mayor Rob Campbell previously told CTV News Atlantic other stores in Salisbury added to their inventory by stocking more dairy, meat and frozen foods. “We live in an amazing community,” said Campbell on Nov. 15, 2025. “This is a small area that really cares about people, and everybody’s chipped in to make a difference.” Since the fire, Campbell said people have had to make the trip to neighbouring communities like Petitcodiac, Riverview or Moncton to get their groceries – an inconvenience for some people, especially seniors. “This is the familiarity. This is what they know so it’s a huge, huge inconvenience,” said Campbell in November. The new store will have a different look with more meals-to-go, a new-look bakery and a stronger focus on vendors from the area. The Walkers will donate $1,000 to the Salisbury Helping Hands Food Bank to mark the occasion. More to come… For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
