3 Years Later: Old North Dayton bounces back after devastating EF4 tornado rips through

DAYTON — So much has changed in Old North Dayton since three years ago when an EF4 tornado ripped through part of Montgomery County.

An empty lot full of rocks, dirt and grass was once a grocery store that helped to feed this part of the community.

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Grocerylane once stood in the empty lot. Nine months after the tornado hit, Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist McCall Vyrdaghs had the opportunity to walk up and down the aisles of the grocery store with owner Deep Patel.

He was hopeful that he was going to open the store back up for the residents of old North Dayton, but I think deep down he knew it wasn’t going to happen.

“When you think it’s too much to handle and you’ll have to close the store,” Patel said

Grocerylane was the main grocery store for the residents of Old North Dayton, and when the store went out of business that led to a food desert in the community.

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Vrydaghs had the chance to talk with Matthew Tepper who is the president of the Old North Dayton Neighborhood Association and he said they’ve come up with a unique way to feed the community.

“We have actually a new grocery store that just opened. That makes three small little grocery stores and that seems to be filing the gap,” Tepper said.

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Looking Back: 2019 Tornado Outbreak and Recovery Bengals pro bowl wide receiver AJ Green stopped by Corinthian Baptist Church/Red Cross Emergency shelter to donate and lend a helping hand for those impacted by the tornado. Photos courtesy of Maria Brooks. (Jenna Pichot)

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