Point Place auto shop reopens two years after EF2 tornado destroys business

TOLEDO, Ohio —

Gary’s Automotive, a Point Place staple, is back open after it closed nearly two years ago when an EF2 tornado tore through the neighborhood.

On Monday, phone lines at Gary’s were ringing off the hook as the auto shop reopened.

“We’re just ready to get back into it,” said co-owner David Thomas. “Been a long battle.”

Thomas recalls the day the tornado struck.

“Next thing I know, all hell broke loose,” he said. “Walked outside of my house and never seen anything like it.”

After the devastation, Thomas says the company realized they were under-insured and rebuilding wasn’t going to be easy.

“The city was frowning on the metal material. I guess it’s not on their approval, approved zoning, whatever that means,” he explained. “They wanted us to use something and that ‘using that something’ was like an additional $150,000 and I don’t think anybody can just write a check like it’s nothing.”

He says because of Toledo City Council member Theresa Morris and Lucas County Commissioner Lisa Sobecki, the business was able to rebuild using materials not initially approved.

RELATED: Point Place business gets approval from city council to rebuild after tornado damage last year

Thomas also thanks his customers for the continued support.

“It’s a blessing. They never left us,” he said. “They just need to know that I got the best of insurance, so if we get another tornado, we ain’t going through this.”

Thomas said the shop’s cat, Fred, is also back home and excited to greet customers again.