Glen Cove Stop & Shop Evacuated Due To Gas Smell

GLEN COVE, NY — The Glen Cove Stop & Shop on Forest Avenue was evacuated Thursday morning due to a small crack in a line during routine construction on the roof, a Stop & Shop spokeswoman told Patch.

The gas was "immediately turned off" and staff and shoppers were evacuated until the fire department deemed it safe to reenter, she said.

Glen Cove resident Lina Maini, who described the incident in a post in the Facebook group, "Glen Cove Neighbors," told Patch that she was at the self-checkout station around 11 a.m. when she smelled a "really strong smell of gas." Within a minute, she said, Stop & Shop staff members began telling all shoppers to evacuate the store.

Staff and shoppers were instructed to stand on the pavement outside of the store by the fire department, according to a commenter on Maini's post.

Before leaving, Maini told Patch that she saw gas company employees working in the store.

The store was reopened around 12 p.m., according to commenters.