WATCH: Forest Acres businesses reopen doors after historic flooding

Locally-owned businesses in Forest Acres have made it their mission to reopen after historic flooding, for their customers and their livelihood

FOREST ACRES, S.C. (WOLO) — Locally-owned businesses in Forest Acres have made it their mission to reopen after historic flooding, for their customers and their livelihood.

Three feet of water filled Burnette’s Cleaners, next to the Forest Acres Police Department on Trenholm Road. Employees say they started taking orders within two weeks of the flood, actually cleaning clothing and linens for flood victims.

“People were very patient,” customer service specialist Priscilla Metze said. “They were very, very helpful. They stopped by to see if they could help us in any way.”

A left turn onto Forest Drive, Ed Robinson Laundry and Dry Cleaning is back open. It, too, was faced with about three feet of water. It took about three months for the cleaner to get back to business.

Because of the delayed reopening, cashier Genena Williams say they figured it would take a while to get their regulars back, but they were wrong.

“They were right back in the store,” Williams said. “Saying, ‘Congratulations,’ ‘good to see you,’ you know, ‘you shortened my way home 20 minutes,’ so you know, they were excited.”

Just next door, in what used to be Corma’s, Forest Lake Fabrics reopened a temporary space this week.

“We’re here, trying to drum up business, so we can get back on our feet again,” president Michael Marsha said.

After losing everything in the flood, Marsha says the community was incredibly gracious.

“The God loving people of this community, just were, they had their hearts on their shoulders,” Marsha said.

Forest Lake Fabrics is planning on being back in its old space, two doors down, by the spring.