MONTEGO BAY, St James — For residents in western Montego Bay communities like Catherine Hall, West Green, and Fairview, the simple act of grocery shopping has morphed into a logistical headache in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa’s destructive sweep. With several major supermarkets still out of commission, many are voicing growing frustration over the lack of accessible options and the mounting pressure on the few stores left operating.
The storm’s trail of damage forced the shutdown of key retailers including MegaMart Catherine Hall, Hi-Lo Fairview, and Grand Depot at West Green’s entrance. Though some alternative branches are open elsewhere, the spatial inconvenience and increased traffic congestion have compounded what was already a difficult post-hurricane adjustment.
“Everything just scatter now,” said a disgruntled shopper caught in the Saturday crowd outside Progressive Fairview. “It used to be one stop. Now it’s a long wait, full parking lot, and long lines. We losing time we don’t have.”
MegaMart’s 24-hour service and broad inventory once made it a staple for many in the western end of the city. Now, its absence has left both a retail gap and a cultural void — especially as the holiday season looms. With no clear word on whether the store will reopen before Christmas, its loyal customers are left in limbo.
“It was the decorations, the chicken, even just the feeling. MegaMart made the season feel like something,” one longtime customer said.
Hi-Lo Fairview, another heavily relied-upon branch, remains closed due to structural damage. Grace Foods’ CEO confirmed that repairs are underway but gave no timeline for reopening. While the Church Street location is operational, residents west of the city say it’s simply too far and inconvenient, especially with post-storm traffic snarl-ups.
Grand Depot’s reopening before year-end remains a possibility, but no confirmed date has been shared. In the meantime, a growing number of displaced shoppers are heading east to Harbour City Mall’s Afresh Marketplace, pushing demand there into overdrive.
Charm, a resident of Fairview, described the new routine as exhausting. “Cooking every day now because the food court is out. And if you try Progressive, you better have time. I waited hours last weekend.”
As Montego Bay limps back to normalcy, the retail recovery — especially for supermarkets — remains uneven. And for those living west of the city center, the challenge isn’t just about groceries. It’s about lost convenience, broken routines, and a disrupted way of life.
