Sanford, NC -- On Monday, the state of North Carolina will remember 24 people killed and hundreds of homes and businesses destroyed during the tornado outbreak on April 16th of last year.
In Sanford, A Lowe's Home Improvement hardware store was destroyed and in what seemed like a short time rebuilt, just months later.
Directly across the street from Lowe's is Southside Plaza Shopping Center that is a daily reminder to residents that not everything is back to normal.
According to Sandford's Planning and Development Department Director Bob Bridwell, when the tornado hit on that Saturday afternoon. the center was owned by a company called Graff & Associates and leased by Walmart who subleased to Tractor Supply & Co., Big Lots and Cato Fashions & Plus.
Shortly after the tornado, Bridwell said the Walmart paid off it's lease and Graff & Associates later put the center up for sale.
Bridwell told WFMY News 2, there's hope after a group of investors said they plan to buy the center.
"I think this is a culmination of a process of healing that was very devastating to this city and to Lee County," said Bridwell.
According to Bridwell the interested buyer plans to seal the deal on April 23rd. The goal is to reopen the stores by the end of this year.
WFMY News 2