Through the freeze: Kannapolis store stays open in historic snow

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Icy roads. Snow plows. Closed businesses. It’s a frozen sight Kannapolis hasn’t seen since 2004.

Despite the record-breaking snow, one supermarket stayed open.

Esther Carbajal, owner of Cancun Supermarket, says there’s a reason she wouldn’t close.

“I know they need this kind of store open because we sell a lot for food for, a lot of things,” she said. “They need it.”

Carbajal lives in Charlotte and travels to Kannapolis each day. When the snow was at its peak Saturday, her normal 30-minute commute turned into two hours.

“I live in Charlotte, but I come here every day last week, too, and this week,” she said. “It’s been hard but you have to do it.”

As one of the few places open, she says it’s been difficult to keep shelves stocked. Limes and peppers ran low. Some bins sat empty.

Much of the store’s food is imported from Mexico, adding another layer of uncertainty during winter weather disruptions.

“The bread, you see? Every day we stock, but the people take,” she said. “Tortillas stocked every day.”

For Carbajal, staying open isn’t just about business. It’s about service.

“So happy. I stay here for the people. I don’t know, I never think about it. But when I stay here, I do everything for everybody,” she said.

While much of Kannapolis waited for roads to thaw, one set of doors remained open, lights on, register ringing and shelves refilled as quickly as they emptied, serving a community determined to weather the storm together.

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