“The community has been phenomenal.”

“This is us rising again,” said Lewiston, Maine, Mayor Carl Sheline

The bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, where a mass shooting took place in October, has reopened, the Associated Press reports. The Washington Post and New York Daily News.

Justin and Samantha Juray, owners of Just-In-Time Recreation, opened the venue’s doors on Friday, May 3, six months after the state’s deadliest shooting that left 18 people dead and 13 injured.

Gunman Robert Card killed eight people at the Jurays’ bowling alley and then drove to a nearby bar, Schemengees Bar and Grille, and killed another ten people. He later died by suicide.

Related: ‘My heart is crushed,’ says owner of restaurant targeted by Maine mass shooter who killed at least 16 people

“It will never leave my mind,” Samantha, 34, said, per AP. “I think if we don’t move forward — not that this whole thing made any sense at all — but we’re just going to let the people who took so much from us win.”

Still, Justin, 43, said he was hesitant to reopen the bowling alley — until the Lewiston community came out in support of the couple.

Kathy Lebel, owner of Schemengees Bar & Grille, also hopes to reopen her establishment, but in a different location.

Several customers attended the reopening, including people like Colin, who was at the bowling alley the night of the mass shooting. Colin attended the event on Friday with his mother and father, John Robinson.

“I can’t tell you how amazing this day is,” Robinson said, per AP. “An opportunity to celebrate their lives. To celebrate the rebirth of Just-In-Time.”

Employee Tom Giberti also told the outlet that people are “so excited to have us back.”

“The community was phenomenal,” he said. “They have been here for us, they have supported us.”

Related: A bar manager, best friends and sister: Remembering the victims of the Maine mass shootings

Giberti, 70, is among the heroic community members who saved the lives of at least four children that day. Before he could get to safety, he led the children between lanes to an area behind the bowling pins.

He was shot a total of five times in both legs and hit by shrapnel. He underwent surgery and now shows very few signs of his injuries, according to AP.

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The eight deaths included two Just-In-Time employees. A large part of the staff has returned to work.

The bowling alley honored the dead by displaying photos of the eight people who lost their lives during Just-In-Time behind the front desk and bowling pins with the names of the 18 shooting victims.

In addition, the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America gave the venue a new scoring system, new automatic bumpers and gutters. It also brought in a seasoned bowling machine repair expert to spend a week at the location, per The Washington Post.

Related: Sheriff had reason to take mass shooter into custody before rampage that left 18 dead, report says

There was also a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday afternoon, with Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline celebrating the reopening. “This is us rising again,” Sheline said. “Now that you’re all here, it’s very clear. Lewiston can never be stopped.”

“You’re the reason,” Justin added. “Here’s why. This is why we decided to reopen.”

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