Damascus business owners welcome customers back after Helene
Ralph Wilson owns four businesses in the town. His popular 'Damascus Diner' was filled with over three feet of water from Hurricane Helene.
Since September, Wilson has been rebuilding the inside with new flooring and equipment. He's excited to reopen to residents and visitors, but the rebuilding process has been filled with ups and downs.
Damascus rebuilding after floods with faith, donations and volunteers
'Well, to compare it with the roller coaster,' he said. 'When it first happened, I didn't even understand the gravity of it. I didn't even think about how bad it was. And then once that set in, that's pretty much a low point. But then you start digging out and you say, well, you know, with a little bit of help, you know, maybe I can get it back rolling.'
Wilson said the task of rebuilding was too much for some.
'I get different attitude from different people,' he said. 'Some people were so frustrated. I mean, they just said, 'I'm gone,' you know, packed up and left. And then some people like me who are too stubborn say, 'You know, I'm going to make a go of it. ' And most people here are trying to make a go of it.'
Wilson says rebuilding has allowed him to make changes to help his employees serve customers more efficiently. For more updates about the diner, visit its Facebook page here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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