WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The cash registers are ringing again at Dick's Sporting Goods near Wilkes-Barre.
"The front of the building just ripped off and you could see a line straight back through the back of the store. You could see (Interstate) 81 in the background and the store was just completely devasted,” said store manager Cris Duman.
That EF2 twister slammed the commercial area of Wilkes-Barre Township, damaging two dozen stores, causing an estimated $18 million in damages.
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Some buildings had to be torn down.
The sign for Dick's Sporting Goods was found miles away in Bear Creek Township.
But there has been progress.
Staples and other stores are back in business.
TJ Maxx reopened last weekend.
Dick's customers are glad to have their store back.
"Good, really feel good. Nice place, nice store," said Tom Allardyce of Jenkins Township.
"The snow brought on, came a little early so now we're shopping out here for some gloves and coats for my grandson,” said Chuck Dunn of Kingston.
The Luzerne County Dick’s store cost millions to rebuild.
It has an expanded fitness section, no firearms, and 20 of the workers who were on staff when the twister hit have returned to work at the store again.
"Some of our neighbors are coming back at the same time so it's like putting our community back together so it's been great,” said Dick’s marketing manager Mark Mackisoc.
Work on other tornado-damaged businesses continues here in Luzerne County.