On the fourth Saturday after a late-night fire shuttered Wally’s in Surf City, the restaurant reopened for business – an extraordinary effort powered by government guidance, relentless teamwork and unwavering support from the family, friends and the community.

“I know we have a great community,” owner Mike Tomko said Thursday afternoon, June 25. “Seeing it from this side (of things) … and having coffee in the shell garden (created in front of the restaurant by well-wishers) is heartwarming.”