COROLLA, N.C. — Corolla Village Bar-B-Que reopened for the first time since August 2024 on Friday. More than 20 customers waited patiently for the restaurant to open at 11 a.m. and it was clear they had been waiting on the day for a long time.

“I guess I'm a little emotional also about this. It's been a struggle for us, but here we are. I'm real happy about today. My staff stuck it out with me. My managers and the whole staff is coming back," Crystal Salvatore, owner of Corolla Village Bar-B-Que, said.

Understandably, it’s been a long 10 months for Corolla Village Bar-B-Que owner Crystal Salvatore and her staff. Aug. 8, 2024, was a devastating day.

“Our building was hit by lightning and it burnt down," Salvatore said.

Since that day, there has been an outpouring of support near and far

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