Anastatius Lawrence, one of a thousand people seeking a job at a new food supermarket in Lehigh, holds his application up. He spent several hours during two days last week waiting to be interviewed by Save A Lot food store officials. Photo by Mel Toadvine

About 1,000 people lined the parking lot at the Bealls Shopping Center on Homestead Rd. two days last week to fill out applications and be interviewed for about 50 jobs at the Save A Lot food market that is scheduled to open Jan. 26 or Jan. 27.

Save A Lot equipment and shelves are being installed at the store this week and owner Kim Walker and others who interviewed job seekers all day last Thursday said there were at least 650 people standing in line to get inside to be interviewed.

“I was surprised at the number of people looking for a job,” Walker said. His son, Erick Walker, is the manager of the store. There are other Save A Lot food markets in Lee County.

Last Thursday, it rained throughout the day and many were wet standing outside, most of them crouching under a small roof that lined the front of the store fronts.

Some of the owners of the businesses near the food market said they had to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office because the line of job seekers was crowding the walkway front entrances of their stores. Some came during the day and when the rain started, left and came back Friday morning.

Hiring Sign: This large hiring sign is in the window of the new Save A Lot food store in the Bealls shopping plaza. Some 1,000 people turned out Thursday and Friday to apply for the jobs at the new store. Photo by Mel Toadvine

By 9 a.m., on Friday, some 350 people and more were still coming again lining the front of the Center. On Thursday, the lines went far back behind a barbershop in one direction and all the way to the McDonalds in another line.

Save A Lot officials had to leave Friday morning to bring back more applications because they had run out. On Friday, the people were asked to come into the big market and stand in line to wait to be interviewed.

Walker said they were looking for people to fill all types of positions from checkers and stockers to meat room and produce employees.

Zach Bernard, and assistant manager, said it was almost overwhelming to see such a large crowd lined outside looking for a job.

Marie Shallop of Lehigh, stood in line with an application form in hand.

Kim Walters is owner of Save A Lot food stores.

“I have the experience because I have done cashier and deli work,” she said. She has been without a job for a year.

Walter Christie of Lehigh said he has been out of work for a year, too.

“I did security and I drove a taxi and am looking for a job. I need to work,” he said.

Another job seeker standing in line Friday morning said he had been there the day before but because of the storm and heavy rains, he left to return on Friday and was surprised to see almost as many people applying for jobs at the market as the day before..

“It’s unbelievable,” said Johmar Thomas, who said he got wet standing in line the previous day.

Some 1,000 people have applied for jobs at the new Save A Lot food market on Homestead Rd. in Lehigh. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Anastatius Lawrence of Lehigh said he stood in line for about three hours and left, too, to come back on Friday. He said he has not been employed for 18 months.

At 9:30 a.m. Friday, he was the last in line and still standing outside.

“I help to support my mom. I need to find a job,” he said.

Within 10 minutes, some 20 more people were behind him in line all looking to get a job at the food market.

Owner Kim Walker said they were taking time out for two full days talking to each person who had filled out an application.

He said those that are selected should be contact by sometime this week.