Johnson's deli reopens Friday at Attalla store, nearly three months after car hit building

The popular deli at Johnson’s Giant Food in Attalla is reopening Friday after three months of recovery.

Crews were applying the finishing touches on Thursday, but come 10:30 a.m. you’ll encounter a new deli meats case, a shiny new grill and fryers, plus a larger area to serve customers. And, of course, all the fixins’ and aromas in the air.

“Everybody’s excited,” said owner Mack Johnson.

On June 5, a man rammed his car through the brick building and into the deli that draws crowds just about every day of the week.

The damage was extensive. Water and gas lines were broken, plus the sprinklers were pulled from the ceiling. The fryers were turned over, spilling 100 gallons of oil that mixed with the water and ran across the building's entire floor.

The store on Third Street opened three days later, but the deli — known for its mac and cheese, smoked meats and daily specials — was a mess. New “everything” had to be ordered, and that took time.

Meanwhile. Johnson worried about the financial situation from damage and loss of business.

“We didn’t want to lose customers,” he said. “They are our lifeline.”

Johnson said the community has rallied around the store and been extremely supportive.

There was a lot of drama surrounding the accident, but Johnson said the store has tried to stay above the fray.

Police believe Ryan Tyler Watts, 24, broke into a relative’s home June 5 in Rainbow City, and tried to drown a female.

Police believe Watts about an hour later intentionally rammed his car into the grocery store. After an extensive stay in the hospital, he has been charged in Rainbow City with attempted murder.

Johnson said his family hasn’t decided whether to press charges yet for the incident at the store. He’s focusing on the positive right now.

There are no special plans for Friday, just back in business as usual, he said.

Operations manager Blake Sitz called it a “soft opening” and said some type of celebration might happen later.

He called it a regular “catfish Friday,” as a past Friday menu included a choice of catfish or country style ribs, with a side of black-eyed peas, potato salad and strawberry cobbler for dessert.

Sitz said the deli passed the health department inspection Thursday afternoon and is ready to go. He said everything in the deli is a little bigger, including the serving and prep sections.

“Hopefully we’re going to pick back up and go like clockwork like we used to,” he said.

The store has told folks on its Facebook page and that’s about it. Word of mouth works.

“It’s a small community,” Johnson said. “Everybody communicates.”

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Johnson's Giant Food in Attalla reopening deli after car hit building