On December 9th, Jake Kearney sat glued to the television, watching coverage of the tornado that had ripped through Sumner and Robertson counties earlier that afternoon. 

Jake, owner of Frosted Luau, a food truck serving soft serve ice cream with a unique twist, was anxiously awaiting any word on the status of his business, which was housed in a building located between Jolly Ollie’s and Big Play. 

Jake says didn’t have to wait long to find out his truck was in trouble. “I found out that the building our truck was housed in took a direct hit because I saw it in the background of the news coverage,” comments Jake. 

What followed was a process of assessing the damage and determining the best path forward. According to Jake, the damage was so severe, he would not be able to reopen his business until things were fixed. 

In the months that have passed since December 9th, plans for rebuilding and reopening the hundreds of businesses that were impacted by the tornado have been as varied as the businesses themselves. While some have closed their doors for good, others are rebuilding, repairing, or remodeling. 

For many, the timeline for reopening has been subject to the whims of insurance payouts, as well as the availability of materials and contract labor. Despite these challenges one thing has remained clear: the resiliency of our local businesses reflects the strength of the community itself.

One of the most seriously impacted businesses was Jolly Ollie’s Pizza and Pub in Hendersonville. 

Owner, Dilya Knight, says she is no stranger to adversity. “In 2019 a semi-truck hit a power line, causing a fire in the building. While we were under construction to repair the damage, Covid hit and shut everything down, leaving us closed for thirteen months. We reopened, and last year proved to be our best year in fourteen years… until the tornado,” she says.  

“My family, along with our employees, lost our jobs, and I lost a business that was built with blood, sweat, and tears…again,” Dilya continues.

Despite these challenges, Diilya is resolute in her commitment to reopen. “We are rebuilding our place, and we will continue to serve our community. People say that I am stronger than the storm. Yes, I am.”

Just up the road from Jolly Ollie’s is City Square Plaza, which houses several businesses including the Hendersonville Performing Arts Company and City Square Books and Music. The building, which is located next door to what was once Big Play, took a direct hit from the storm. It sustained extensive structural damage to the roof, air conditioning units, and front façade, as well as water damage to the interior. 

Steve Vallar, owner of City Square Books and Music, had recently begun moving inventory from his previous location at Walton Ferry Books and Music to City Square Plaza when the tornado hit. 

“I had only moved in a few things, so primarily the loss we’re dealing with is the loss of business resulting from the fact that our inventory has been in storage for months,” says Steve.

All three business owners are in agreement regarding the ways the community has come together to support them. Jolly Ollie’s and City Square Books and Music were recipients of grants from the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce Foundation, made possible by donations collected from Hendersonville Rising, a tornado relief concert and sponsored by the Hendersonville Chamber and Hometown Jam. 

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The concert was held on January 30 and featured many artists including Jesse Keith Whitley, The Isaacs, and Jimmy Fortune.

Dilya Knight says she has special plans for her grant money. “At Jolly Ollie’s, all funds raised by Hendersonville Rising are being dedicated to renovating our outdoor tiki bar and beer garden. We are using these funds specifically for this project to revive the space our customers love the most.”

For Steve Vallar, the grant covered many of the expenses City Square Books and Music incurred while waiting for their new space to be repaired. 

“I was very lucky that I was able to get a grant from the Hendersonville Chamber to help cover the cost of the storage and moving twice,” Steve acknowledges.

Jake Kearney of Frosted Luau was nothing short of inspired by the outpouring of support the newly opened business received.

“We’ve actually had three of our busiest days in the last two months, so it's been incredible. The community's been so responsive, and it's just been awesome to see the number of people who have come out specifically because they know what happened and want to support us,” he says.

A newly refreshed Jolly Ollie’s will reopen after the 4th of July, with renovations including expanded bathrooms, covered seating in the beer garden, new pool tables, expanded menu items, and specialty cocktails. 

Although a solid date has yet to be established, Steve Vallar is hopeful that City Square Books and Music will reopen in June in its new space in City Square Plaza. Steve plans to offer a seating area and coffee for patrons to enjoy while they browse. 

Meanwhile, Frosted Luau, specializing in unique fruit flavors, donut sundaes, cookie sandwiches, and dairy free options, has reopened and is currently scheduling bookings for the summer.

Although the tornado on December 9th certainly proved that weather is nature’s disruptor, it can also be said that rebuilding is a sign of hope and new beginnings. 

In truth, no storm lasts forever.