Since the doors opened just before 9 a.m. at the Salvation Army Family Store in Murfreesboro Saturday, employees were very busy with long time customers.
"Its like a family reunion, everyone is coming back together," Captain Monica Seiler said. "A good handful we know really well. We see them pretty regularly."
However, a few months ago Seiler wasn't certain of the store's future.
More than $50,000 worth of goods were destroyed when a severe storm took the roof off the building and shattered the front windows.
"We had a lot of worry, I had a lot of worry personally about our staff and just about our customers because a lot of our customers don't feel comfortable shopping other places, they don't have as much money," Seiler explained.
Their ability to serve the community was put to a stop by Mother Nature, and the hard work to rebuild began.
"The cleanup, and collecting donations, and the logistics and setting it all back up," Seiler explained.
Five months later, customers like Anita Everett have been happy to be back.
"Oh honey this is my favorite place to shop for cookware, jackets, furniture," she said.
Generations of her family have shopped there.
"Just couldn't wait for them to get back open," said Everett.
Her story has been like many others in Murfreesboro, who have relied on the Salvation Army for good bargains and good people.
"We're just happy to be open. It's good to see our people," said Seiler.
