Kmart, another popular major chain store reopens in Lismore Square at 8am tomorrow.

It is the last of the big retailers to reopen after Big W, Woolworths and Coles did so over the last six weeks.

It is an exciting time, not only for customers but for staff who have been patiently waiting since February 28 to serve people in their own store once again.

Fourteen employees lost their homes in the catastrophic flood and most have stayed with Kmart as they were rebuilding their lives, working in the Ballina store.

Former Store Manager Emily Betts and Assistant Store Manager Cassandra Ryan were the first people back into Kmart four days after the flood to assess the damage for head office.

"As soon as I opened the door (back entrance), the smell was the first thing I noticed," said Emily, "There was still an inch of brown, muddy residual water on the ground with debris spread around."

"I am an analytical person so I needed to see the devastation for myself. I was store manager for four years so there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that have gone into building that store to be proud of what we were putting out to the community."

"I was distressed, to be honest as we were walking through the store on a Facetime call with my Zone Manager Michael Turner. He was keeping my emotions in check."

"All the stock was gone, it was a complete write-off. We then had to get an action plan in place for the cleanup and the rebuild."

That was the last time Emily set foot into Kmart Lismore Square until last week as she had moved into a new role within the company as well as Wesfarmers, the mother company. Emily is now the national Indigenous Program Manager where she takes indigenous team members from all divisions (Kmart, Bunnings, Officeworks, Blackwoods etc) and helps them attain their Certificate IV in leadership.

"Outside of the military, Wesfarmers is the largest employer of indigenous people in Australia," Emily said, "And Lismore employs 20% indigenous people as a part of its workforce."

Emily will be attending the opening at 7am tomorrow with new Store Manager Amy Burrows as well as Uncle Gilbert, Aunty Lily (King) and sister Tracy where a smoking ceremony will take place before speeches and then at 8am the roller doors will be lifted so the public can once again shop at Kmart Lismore Square.

(Part of the Kmart team that will welcome you from 8am tomorrow with Store Manager Amy third from left front row)

Amy is new to Lismore and the Northern Rivers, coming from Warwick as Store Manager.

"You don't often get Store Manager roles with Kmart and especially in this situation so it was too good an opportunity to turn down. I kind of like change every few years so this is somewhere different for me as well," Amy said.

"The people have been amazing. Like when I was house hunting, people would ask what I was doing here and when I told them there was genuine excitement saying "we can't wait". The community have just been amazing, to see how strong everyone is. It is great to see it come back from what it was."

As for the new Kmart store, what can we expect?

"Floor to ceiling everything is new so floor tiles that have been stripped, sealed and cleaned, all new fixturing, ceiling tiles, all electrical work and new signage. In terms of the layout, it is still the same that people already knew because the store was upgraded two years ago. So, everyone will know where everything is," Amy said.

"The only slight change is the aisles are wider so it will be easier for people in a wheelchair, a scooter or a mum with a pram to manoeuvre around the store,"

While you are in Kmart in the coming weeks, say g'day to Sharon, Sandra, Barbara, Di, Lousie and Marie who have been working at the Lismore store for over 40 years each with Marie the newby at 27 years.

(The long-term Kmart employees: Sharon, Louise, Marie, Sandra, Di and Barbara are excited for the reopening)

Sharon and Di actually started two weeks before the Lismore Shopping Square opened in 1979 so 43 years although there has been some maternity leave in between.

If you are looking for work, and long-term employment like the ladies above, Amy is in need of more staff for Kmart Lismore Square whether you are 15 or a senior and no experience necessary.

"We teach everything, we teach you the Kmart way," Amy laughed.

Kmart Lismore Square is open from 8am tomorrow morning (Thursday 28 July) then opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm.