Izzy Miller Furniture, a linchpin in Carnegie's business district for more than half a century, reopened yesterday for the first time since the Sept. 17 flood, providing hope that other stores in the flood-damaged business district will follow suit.

	Darrell Sapp, Post-Gazette David and Donna Walther, owners of Izzy Miller Furniture in Carnegie, talk to reporters yesterday after the ribbon cutting for the reopening of their store. Click photo for larger image.

That's not to say the flood damage is but a memory at Izzy Miller. Only about one-fourth of the store's showroom is open, and even there it is a reconstruction job in progress, with carpeting, the main flooring and about 4 feet of drywall missing. The flood's waterline, about 4 feet high, is still visible on the outside the showroom's window.

The dichotomy between beauty and damage is perhaps best illustrated in the entrance way to the store at 23 E. Main St., where a crystal chandelier and a replica of a Greek statute share space with a plywood wall.

But the fact remains: Izzy Miller Furniture has reopened and for that there is joy in Carnegie.

"I am so excited. This store has been in Carnegie forever," said Jean Salvato, owner of 3rd Street Gallery at 220 Third St., which also sustained flood damage but reopened with an exhibition Friday. She had stopped by the store to wish the owners, Donna and David Walther, good luck.

"We have to have these businesses reopen. We all help each other's business. We all have to be here," Salvato said before blowing a kiss to Donna Walther.

"When this is all over, we have to have dinner," Salvato said. Walther agreed.

That dinner might have to wait until January, which is when Walther estimated the store will be completely reopened. She hopes that within 45 days the showroom now being used will be totally reconstructed.

Even though they figure they lost between $500,000 and $1 million, the Walthers never considered not reopening their furniture business they purchased in December 2001. But thought they might have to do so in their warehouse on Arch Street, abandoning the store that's been a Carnegie landmark since 1946. But after about a week they decided to reopen there.

Walther said she's happy to have some positive emotions to replace those she felt immediately after the flood. She said they're still overcoming hurdles but are heading in the right direction.

"This is a major step. We have to service our customers. This is not the beautiful showroom we had; we're definitely roughing it; but we're here to service them."

Walther said without the numerous volunteers who began with the cleanup the day after the flood, the couple never could have reopened. By reopening, she said, "we're showing the community that with a lot of hard work, mostly by volunteers, it can be done, and not just in Carnegie but in Millvale and Etna and other areas that were flooded."

The point was echoed by Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, who attended a morning ribbon-cutting ceremony there.

"There's still a lot work to be done but the doors are open and they're selling furniture," Onorato said. "It's just unbelievable, the resiliency and the work ethic of the people of this region.

"The fact they are open less than four weeks after that devastating flood is totally unbelievable. What they did is send a signal to small business owners hurt by the flood that it can be done, don't give up."

Onorato, who later this week will announce an economic development plan to help those hurt by the flood, said more help is needed from Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.

"It's very clear from going around the county that federal and state programs are still needed for the vast majority of businesses, including this one, for long-term viability," he said.