MARKERPLACE OF AMERICUS WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED ON MARCH 1, 2007 WHEN A MILE-WIDE TORNADO CARVED A 38 MILE PATH OF DESTRUCTION THROUGH THE CITY. THE TORNADO TOOK WITH IT MOST OF SUMTER REGIONAL HOSPITAL AND OTHER IMPORTANT PIECES OF INFRASTRUCTURE. OVER 500 HOMES WERE AFFECTED AND 100 WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. GEORGIA GOVORNER SONNY PURDUE SAID, "IT WAS WORSE THAN I HAD FEARED. THE HOSPITAL WAS HIT, BUT THE DEVASTATION WITHIN THE AREA OF SUMTER COUNTY AND AMERICUS WAS MORE THAN I IMAGINED. THE BUSINESSES AROUND THE HOSPITAL ARE TOTALLY DESTROYED... IT'S JUST A BLESSING FRANKLY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE MORE FATALITIES THAN WE DID."

VICTORY BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS TO CONSTRUCT A NEW STORE IN CONJUNCTION WITH WINN DIXIE AND 2 W. R. HOLMES WILKINS ARCHITECTS IMMIDIATELY AFTER THE STORM. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 AND THE STORE HAD ITS GRAND OPENING ON JUNE 4, 2008. THE STORE HAS EXCEEDED ITS PROJECTED SALES EXPECTATION, AND VICTORY IS PLEASED TO BE A PART OF RESTORING BASIC SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.