Nassau store reopens after summer flood devastation

NASSAU – Exactly five months to the day after devastating floodwaters ripped apart roads and businesses in Rensselaer County, one of those businesses was able to celebrate their grand reopening.

The Gathering Place has been a popular thrift shop in the village of Nassau for about 25 years.

Five months ago, the shop was forced to shut down abruptly after floodwaters ravaged the floors, the walls and the inventory.

Hard work and perseverance have paid off for Michelle Boomhower and Bill Moore. They run the store, and who did most of the reconstruction work themselves.

The first shoppers came through the doors at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and that means the cash flow that finances the food pantry has also been renewed and refreshed.

This marks an incredible turnaround for this thrift shop, given the damage and destruction incurred in the middle of last July. That’s when inventory was floating around the store, and everything was under four to six inches of water.

Over the past five months, Michelle says her greatest concern was the continued operation of the food pantry, because as she puts it, people can wait to shop, but they can’t wait to eat.

Hear her explain why she says it’s so vitally important to keep the shop open, by watching the video of Dan Levy’s story.