The Market Basket headquarters in Tewksbury was buzzing again on Thursday, but not with protesting employees. After six weeks, they’re back to work, now that Arthur T. Demoulas is under contract to buy the company and reclaim his CEO position. 

The anticipation in the crowd was palpable as hundreds of Market Basket workers waited to see and hear from their beloved CEO Arthur T. on Thursday morning. He pulled up in a black car to loud cheers.

“As I stand before you I am in awe of what you have accomplished and the sterling example you have all set for so many people across the region and across the country,” he told the crowd.

It was an important speech. Employees risked their jobs and stood in the hot sun for him every day, and he had been silent most of the summer. He spoke carefully, steadily. Not tearful or overly emotional, but he seemed on the verge.

“You have demonstrated that everyone here has a purpose, that everyone has meaning. And no one person is better or more important than another. And no one person holds a position of privilege,” he said.

Let’s get to work, he told the crowd. And the employees were beaming.

Robin Seidl, of Lowell, works in the facilities department at headquarters. She said she’s incredibly relieved. Seidl said she knew she was putting her career on the line by picketing, but like other employees, she wouldn’t have continued working at Market Basket under new management.

“I can’t wait to be back to work and have this place run by the people who love it. It’s exciting,” she said.

Seidl acknowledged the unsung heroes throughout the ordeal – the customers who agreed to boycott.

“I want to thank the customers because without them this would never have been possible.”

And then she went inside, where there was plenty of paperwork waiting for her. In the adjoining warehouse building, workers whizzed around on carts, loading pallets with cases of bottled and boxed food.

“That’s it, bring it on, we’re back home. Awesome.”

Jovannie Ferrer, of Lowell, works on the loading docks. He and his friends are hugging and laughing as they get back to work. Yesterday, they were still hoping they had made the right decision at the picket line.

“We never lost hope. I told everybody, listen, it’s all poise they’re just trying to do what they got to do. But we’re going to win it. We’re in it to win it. And today says it. We won. 41 days but we got it. It was a long road,” he siad. 

It will be a short road back to normalcy for the 71 stores around Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Ferrer said.

All the workers I spoke to say they plan to work around the clock to restock shelves, especially with meat, produce and dairy. And they can all use that overtime pay.