More than one year on from the Midvale Shopping Centre arson attack, one business caught up in the blaze has finally re-opened this morning.
Stewart’s Bakery adjoined the tobacconist at the centre of the suspicious January 2022 attack in Mount Clear, and has been closed ever since in the face of insurance claims and other hurdles.
Margaret Stewart says the path to re-opening has been emotional for her and husband Noel.
“It’s just been the biggest rollercoaster we’ve ever been on.
“We’ve had our ups and downs and now I think there’s a lot of tiredness and stress that (Noel’s) going through to get all the machinery up and going and the products back in” Margaret said.
She’s also thanked the community, who’ve been vocal in missing the treasured local and have stuck by the Stewarts as they’ve battled their way back to operation.
“It’s been very stressful, very out of our control, but finally we’ll be open and we’re just overwhelmed with the support we’ve had and I’m sure it will continue.”
In addition to today’s re-opening, there’ll be an official launch on Saturday the 4th of March for customers to come in and check out the new yet familiar digs, offering all the beloved menu items from before the closure.
