The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

A YEAR after the CostRight food store was destroyed by a massive fire, officials have revealed that a groundbreaking ceremony will be held this month at the Old Trail site to begin rebuilding.

AML chairman Franklyn Butler announced yesterday that the ceremony is scheduled for April 13th and invited customers to attend. The store is expected to reopen in early 2027.

“That store is going to be big and better,” Mr Butler said during a tour with the Prime Minister of another store. “We're looking forward to serving you valuable customers again, where you get more for your money, and that's what we're known for.”

The original store was destroyed in a massive blaze in April last year that engulfed the Hyacinth Stuart Building and nearby commercial properties, forcing evacuations, halting operations at major retailers, and disrupting the planned move-in of several government departments.

The fire broke out late in the morning and raged into the evening, affecting the newly constructed multi-agency facility as well as Solomon’s Old Trail and CostRight. Smoke and flames forced the closure of the East-West Highway, and nearby businesses, including Cable Bahamas, were evacuated.

Emergency services responded swiftly, with 60 to 70 police officers, both on and off duty, deployed to the scene. They were assisted by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and seven officers from the airport. Firefighters used four fire units, each carrying 1,000 gallons of water, to contain the blaze.

AML Foods Limited later confirmed that all staff and customers were safely evacuated before the fire spread, crediting the quick actions of store teams and established emergency protocols. Three firefighters were injured during the response, two of whom required hospital care.

In July, Tribune Business reported that AML Foods received more than $23m from its insurers to cover the damage and losses caused by the mid-April blaze, which destroyed its Solomon’s Old Trail and CostRight stores.

The BISX-listed food retail and franchise group, in its fourth quarter and annual results announcement for the period ending April 2025, said it had largely received the anticipated insurance payouts to offset the $21m combined loss caused by the fire.