The ceremony will serve as an intimate gathering for the family members of the victims, to remember their loved ones and reflect on their ongoing healing journey. It will feature a blessing, tributes from local and state officials, and a recitation of the names of those who lost their lives. At 2:28 p.m., a moment of silence will be observed before the ceremony concludes with a tolling of remembrance bells and a closing hymn of Amazing Grace.

Prior to the start of the remembrance ceremony, wreaths will be placed in the 5/14 Honor Space at approximately 1:45 p.m. by family members of those lost, two Jefferson Ave. Tops store associates, as well as Tops executives - John Persons, CEO, and Ron Ferri, president.

Tops will temporarily pause operations only at its Jefferson Avenue store during the remembrance ceremony. The store will be open to serve the community from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., pause operations from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. for the remembrance ceremony, and then will reopen at 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The store will return to regular operating hours, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Thursday.

Media is asked to RSVP by Tuesday, May 13, at 2 p.m. to Kathy Sautter at ksautter@topsmarkets.com.

WHEN: 1:40 p.m., Wednesday, May 14, 2025 (Please arrive by 1:30 p.m.)

WHERE: Tops Friendly Markets, 1275 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 14208

IMPORTANT NOTES: Need-to-know for the May 14 event: • Tops will allow media inside its Jefferson Avenue store to gather b-roll while the store is closed, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. To best protect local customers and store associates who rely on this store for everyday needs, journalists and photographers will not have access to the store outside of this 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. media availability. • We ask for your understanding and respect for the victims’ families and survivors who are attending the remembrance ceremony. Due to the sensitivity of this event, we ask that you only approach Kathy Sautter or John Mackowiak, our on-site media contacts, if you wish to engage with any families directly impacted by the tragedy. Kathy or John will field any media requests for families and survivors in attendance. • Tops store associates will not be available for interviews at the store on or before May 14 out of respect for their healing journey. • Tops Markets executives John Persons, CEO of Northeast Grocery Inc. (Tops Markets’ parent company), and Ron Ferri, president of Tops, will have availability for interviews after the remembrance ceremony at designated locations inside the store. Many of the public officials in attendance will also be available for interviews.

ABOUT THE 5/14 TOPS HONOR SPACE: Located at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Landon Street, the Tops 5/14 Honor Space was unveiled in 2024 in memory of the beautiful lives lost and a community forever altered on May 14, 2022. At the heart of the Honor Space stands Unity, a stainless-steel sculpture created by Buffalo artists Valeria Cray and her son Hiram Cray to serve as a powerful, visual depiction of faith, hope, and love. The sculpture is surrounded by 10 granite honor bollards, each dedicated to forever remember the 10 individuals whose lives were taken far too soon-. The story of the 5/14 Tops Honor Space and its artwork is further brought to life through poetic descriptions penned by Buffalo poet and artist Aitina Fareed-Cooke.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kathy Sautter, (716) 468-0216, ksautter@topsmarkets.com

# # #

Press Room Archive