‘We missed it desperately’: Ayr store reopens more than a year after it was partially destroyed by a tornado

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Ayr, Ont. store opens one year after tornado partially destroys building

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A store in Ayr has reopened its doors more than a year after a tornado caused widespread damage throughout the community.

An EF2 tornado ripped through Ayr, Ont. on Aug. 17, 2024. Several homeowners were left facing hefty repairs bills and light poles and trees were uprooted at nearby Cowan Park.

The local Home Hardware location on Northumberland Street was one of the hardest hit locations. The storm partially ripped off the building’s roof and some of the walls.

Work to repair the damage took more than a year, but on Friday, the doors finally reopened to eager customers.

“We had one of the busiest days we’ve ever had yesterday with everybody coming out just to see some people, but also to help us out and show their support,” Jeff Seydel, the owner, told CTV News on Saturday.

The shop represents far more than just a place to buy tools and home-improvement supplies.

“I walked in the door, and I saw a whole bunch of people I hadn’t seen in a while,” Mayor of the Township of North Dumfries Sue Foxton said. “The first thing we did was hug and talk about how great it is [that the store is] finally reopening.”

Work to restore the building included structural repairs and updating some features.

“The engineers had to decide if the building was safe and whether it was a tear down or a rebuild,” Seydel said. “A lot of those processes and decisions take time, and that’s what has caused it to be such a long time.”

All told, Seydel said the cost of repairs exceeded $1 million.

“It’s exactly the same structure as it was before, because we wanted it to get back together as quickly as possible. It was important to keep it as it was in terms of the layout. We have new accessibility [features] – a push button on the front door for wheelchair access as well as for the washroom. We’ve added a few new product lines. We did a few extras, like paint the roof instead of leaving it galvanized. It’s a lot brighter here and more welcoming that way.”

The store is now open, but a larger grand reopening celebration is planned for the spring.

“We’re going to get a lot of people here to celebrate and we’ll make a big splash of it,” Seydel explained.

The newly revamped store serves as a reminder of how quickly a sudden storm can leave behind a swath of destruction, and what it means for a community to come together.

“I hope I don’t ever have to go through it again,” Geoff Wheeler told CTV News on Saturday while he was shopping at the store. Wheeler’s home is on Greenfield Road. In 2024, it was directly in the tornado’s path. He said it took two or three months to clean up the damage and debris. “It does open your eyes to the power of nature.”

Seydel expressed his gratitude for all the support he and his team received throughout the rebuilding process.

“It’s insane how the community has come together to support us. We’re so excited to welcome them back.”

Locals said the reopening is a symbol of Ayr’s resiliency and recovery.

“The staff are wonderful,” Martha Orloci, a shopper, said. “They’re great community supporters. You have to give back to the stores that support the community.”

“Hometown businesses, they’re the heart of who we are,” Foxton said. “It’s so exciting. The whole town is buzzing.”