Tulsa Store Back To Business After August Tornado

More than 140 homes and businesses were affected by the tornado that ripped through Tulsa last month..

And while some are still closed others are open and ready for business. 

There are multiple materials needed to fix up Garbe's, a lighting store, which takes up about 48,000 square feet.

And although there's still more work to be done, they want everyone to know they're open and ready for business. 

8/7/2017 Related Story: 25 Homes, 152 Businesses Impacted By Tulsa Tornado

Mary Schulze said she never imagined that an early August tornado would've ripped through midtown Tulsa, damaging businesses along its path, including hers. 

"It was a shock, and if you would've looked at this place, and I mean every window blew in and we actually had interior doors that were blown off the hinges," Schulze said.

Schulze and her husband own Garbe's Lighting and Home Accessories, a business that's been in the family for more than 40 years.

She said she remembers arriving to the store just minutes after the tornado hit.

"The roof was damaged, we had three or four air units that blew completely off, we have some walls that have issues, we had a lot of water damage," Schulze said.

But Schulze said amid all the damage, they never stopped providing for their customers. 

"We needed, to be for our customers, we needed to be there for them, and so we actually helped customers at their car door and we were kind of like a drive through lighting showroom," Schulze said.

All while keeping every one of their workers employed.

And while the store is back open for business, there's still a lot of work to be done. 

"We're gonna get a whole new roof, we;re gonna get new carpeting, a couple exterior walls ... It'll be a brand new store ... Our roofing company said that we would become great friends, until Christmas," Schulze said.

And when asked what got her through all the craziness, Schulze said, "I think a lot of prayers a lot of well wishes from our customers, and just a lot of patience."

Schulze said they hope to have their grand opening by mid to late November.