From despair to a dream. That’s what the past year has been like for local hardware store owner Dave Thompson. Roughly a year and a half ago, his roof collapsed under the weight of snow. Then a year ago, the tornado made it a one-two punch.

This morning, the brand new Thompson’s True Value Hardware store, across the street from its previous location, will be open to the public. Thompson calls the journey “astounding” and says it wouldn’t be happening without his family, which includes his employees.

Thompson says he has doubled the space and the product line has been expanded…adding this is my dream store.