After an EF5 tornado made its way through the town of Hackleburg on April 27, 2011, it seemed like recovery would be next to impossible. In its wake was a town torn apart. Things many residents took for granted were suddenly gone, including Hackleburg’s only grocery store.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and other state and local officials cut a ribbon to open the new Hackelburg Market in Hackelburg. (Jamie Martin/Alabama Governor’s Office)

The local Piggly Wiggly, a cornerstone of the community, was destroyed. Since then, residents have had to make the drive to neighboring towns Hamilton, Phil Campbell and Russellville to do their grocery shopping.

Now, recovery efforts continue to bring back a sense of normalcy for this town and for the first time in four years, Hackleburg once again has a grocery store of its own.

On June 24, the Hackleburg Market opened its doors to customers with Gov. Robert Bentley and other officials on hand for the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Hackleburg is a symbol of rebuilding, a symbol of pride, a symbol of hope,” said Bentley. “This truly is a shining example of what we can do in the state of Alabama when we look after each other, love each other, and that’s exactly what y’all have done.”

The community came out to support the opening of the Hackleburg Market. (Anna Catherine Roberson/Alabama NewsCenter)

Hackleburg Mayor Whitey Cochran credits the community for the success of the new grocery store.

“This is the result of what happens when you work together to get something accomplished,” said Cochran.

Cochran worked closely with Jim Byard, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, and Wally Kemp, an investor out of Nashville, Tenn., to bring a grocery store back to Hackleburg.

“The governor told us after the tornado to ‘make it happen’ and that’s what we told our office,” recalled Byard. “We made it happen and we did it with this partnership.”

Once named America’s Best Hometown, the Hackleburg community believes it will once again claim that title. Bentley is rooting for it, too.

“Hackleburg is really coming back,” said Bentley. “You are going to be at some point again described as the best hometown in America.”

In the four years since the tornado, Hackleburg continues to rely on the community to build back bigger and better than ever before. Because of this, Hackleburg continues to show progress.

Much of this progress is seen in the reopening of businesses and schools. In 2013, VF Corporation reopened its Wrangler plant and has hired 250 employees since. Later this summer, the new city hall and police complex will open. And for the first time since the tornado, a new school will open this fall.