Loyal Customers Return To Market Basket After Boycott

CHELSEA (CBS) - The sounds of Market Basket humming, a volume not heard in six weeks, as cash registers rang, bags were filled and shelves were restocked.

"It's a about time," said customer Jane Souza at the Chelsea store. Living on a fixed income she says it was difficult to shop at other, more expensive grocery stores. She says she boycotted Market Basket to show her support. "The employees are great, the prices are good, so I guess it was all in."

Gina Rosa, who says she's been shopping at Market Basket for 35 years, returned to the Chelsea store for the first time in six weeks. "I stayed out of the store to help these people. I think what they did was right," said Rosa. She found what she needed in frozen foods, but produce and some meats will take more time to replenish. "It's a clean store, the people are nice, and the prices."

Deliveries were plentiful overnight after a deal to end the standoff was finally reached. Fruits and fish made their way into the store and Diana Vega was able to pick up cheese for the first time. "I missed the smell, I missed the atmosphere and I missed the people," she said.

Part-time employees who were out of a job were welcomed back by their managers. Among them Carol Rendon who says she never doubted she would return. "It's fantastic seeing all the people who come in every week, the faithful customers and the employees," she said.

But it's the customers filling their carts again that Market Basket hopes will make it a quick recovery. Arthur T. Demoulas estimates it will take 7 to 10 days to get the stores back to normal.

"Whatever we can get up on the shelves we'll do it and get everyone back to work," said Chelsea store manager Christopher Stetson. "We thank the customers. They're the ones who helped to end this by staying away."

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