EXCLUSIVE: Legacy Indie Bailey’s Reopens on Hurricane-Hit Sanibel Island

Nearly three years after Hurricane Ian slammed the West Coast of Florida and left devastation in its wake, a beloved grocer in Sanibel, Fla., has hung its proverbial shingle again and welcomed back faithful shoppers.

The Johnson family that owns and operates Bailey’s General Store, which dates back 126 years, recently unveiled A Bit of Bailey’s on the island near Fort Myers. Located at the intersection of Sanibel-Captiva Road and Rabbit Road, the market is a smaller format than the previous store that sustained heavy damage and has been shuttered since Ian roared ashore. The family is still planning to replace that store with a larger, more hurricane-proof location; a fall groundbreaking is expected for that site.

Calli Johnson duPont, the store’s fourth-generation owner-operator, explained to Progressive Grocer in a recent interview the impetus behind the creation of A Bit of Bailey’s: “When we reopened, we wanted to blend the best of both worlds — fresh, updated features that make shopping easier while still keeping the heart of Bailey’s intact. We’ve added modern touches like improved layouts, a wider selection of specialty items, and some fun new offerings in prepared foods and beverages.”…

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