The owners of a Maine bowling alley, Justin and Samantha Juray, faced a difficult decision after a mass shooting took place at their venue, where the gunman killed eight people in the deadliest shooting in the state’s history. Samantha Juray initially struggled with the idea of reopening, but with the support of the community in Lewiston, they decided to renovate and reopen their business. The bowling alley, which has been renamed Just-In-Time Recreation, underwent a complete makeover, with new flooring, paint, and tributes to the victims of the shooting.
After the shooting, the Jurays received negative feedback regarding their decision to reopen, but the support of the people in Lewiston led them to move forward with their plans. The community rallied behind them, prompting the Jurays to reevaluate their initial decision to remain closed. They decided to keep the same name for their business, as it aligned with their history of saving the venue from closing down three years ago. Across the country, other businesses impacted by mass shootings have taken different approaches to moving forward, such as creating memorials or reopening under new names.
In Orlando, the Pulse nightclub site was purchased by the City to create a memorial after a mass shooting in 2016. In Aurora, Colorado, a movie theater where 12 people were killed in 2012 reopened under a new name. And in Newtown, Connecticut, schools impacted by shootings were razed. In Lewiston, both the bowling alley and the nearby bar hit by the gunman have plans to reopen at different venues. The manager of the bowling alley, Tom Giberti, who helped save lives during the shooting, praised the support of the community in getting the venue reopened.
The reopening of the bowling alley includes new features such as a new scoring system and tributes to the victims of the shooting. The staff, including survivors of the shooting, are preparing to return to work at the venue. Among those who will be speaking at the reopening ceremony is Maine’s governor, Janet Mills. Samantha Juray expressed her excitement about the reopening and the opportunity to see familiar faces of regular customers despite the emotional toll of the tragedy. The community in Lewiston has played a vital role in supporting the owners and staff of the bowling alley as they prepare to move forward.
