Deciding whether to reopen after a mass shooting is a dilemma that business owners must face.
For Justin and Samantha Juray, the answer didn’t come easy. But when they decided to reopen their bowling alley in Maine, they didn’t hesitate.
Six months after the gunman opened fire, patrons returned Friday to find touching photos at the end of each lane, bright paint on the walls and new flooring. become. The Lewiston venue has been completely renovated and now has a lively, open atmosphere.
Samantha Juray becomes emotional as she recalls the events of October 25th. Her gunman killed eight people at the bowling alley, then drove to a nearby bar and pool hall and killed 10 more in the deadliest mass shooting in state history.
He later died by suicide.
“I can’t get that out of my mind,” Juray said this week as he made final preparations for reopening. “If we don’t move forward, I don’t think all of this would have mattered, but we’re just going to let the people who took so much from us win.”
Justin Juray was initially adamantly opposed to reopening, and received negative feedback from outsiders.
But everything changed, she said, as people in Lewiston came to support them. Samantha Juray said she knew she would have to reopen within a few weeks.
They decided to keep the same name, “Just-In-Time Recreation.” They call it that because when they bought the venue three years ago, the owners were days away from closing. It’s also a perfect name for Justin.
Across the country, people are taking different approaches in the wake of mass shootings. Barbara Poma, former owner of the Pulse nightclub in Florida where 49 people were murdered in 2016, said every situation and community is different.
“You suddenly go into a state of shock and your emotions take over your thoughts,” Poma said in an email. “Ultimately, you will be forced to make important business decisions based on how it affects others emotionally and publicly. There are no easy or right answers. ”
Last year, the city of Orlando agreed to purchase the Pulse nightclub site to build the memorial.
In Aurora, Colorado, the movie theater where 12 people were killed in 2012 has since reopened with a new name. Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo will reopen in 2022, two months after 10 Black people were murdered.
Sandy Hook Elementary School was demolished in Newtown, Connecticut, and Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, is also planned to be bulldozed.
In Lewiston, Kathy Revell, owner of Skimenzie’s Bar & Grill, the second restaurant attacked by a gunman, also hopes to reopen at another location.
At the bowling alley, people are “very excited to have us back,” Tom Ghiberti said.
Ghiberti, who has worked at the bowling alley for 20 years, is credited with saving the lives of at least four children on the night of the shooting.
He led them along the narrow passage between the lanes to the area behind the pin. Before Giberti could be evacuated to safety, he was shot in both legs and struck by shrapnel.
After undergoing surgery, it didn’t take long for Giberti to stop using the mobility walker he was given. These days, he enjoys playing golf and physically shows few signs of injury as he struts around the bowling alley.
He said many people in Lewiston helped reopen the venue.
“The community has been phenomenal,” Ghiberti said. “They are here for us and supporting us.”
Renovations to the bowling alley include a new scoring system, tables with photos of the eight people who died just in time, and bowling pins with the names of the 18 victims of the shootings at both venues. Many condolences have been expressed.
Two bowling alley staff were among the dead. Most of the surviving staff have returned to work at the venue.
Samantha Juray said she is more than ready to serve customers again and can’t wait to see the familiar faces of regulars as they adjust to the new normal.
Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills is among those scheduled to speak at Friday afternoon’s ceremony.
“We’re looking forward to opening,” Juray said. “It’s definitely going to be a very long day and probably an emotional day.”
