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'I don't want to close, this is my life' | Louisville Thrift Store hopeful as MSD project concludes

The owner of the store is still in debt after losing out on business due to a sewer project. Scott, who is 70, drove DoorDash for 80 hours a week to stay afloat.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Its been nearly four months since John Scott came into work at the Louisville Thrift Store and was surprised to see he could not get on the main street.

"They closed the road," Scott said. "They never told me they were going to close the road. We we're at our wit's end, trying to survive these past four five months, with people not being able to get to our store."

MSD was working on an emergency sewer repair project outside the Louisville Thrift Store at 26th and Main to fix a pipe that was installed in the 1800s.

Back in July, WHAS11 shared Scott's situation; the community immediately came together through a fundraiser. However even with the generous donations, Scott said they still were struggling to pay bills that are now at nearly $20,000.

"So, what I had to do to save the store, which is my life, I went out and drove Doordash 80-100 hours a week to save the store," Scott said. "Which is not easy for a 70-year-old man."

On Thursday, Scott began to see light at the end of the tunnel as one of the barricades we're removed.

In a statement from MSD:

"Yes, Main Street is open to traffic. Twenty-sixth remains closed between Main Street and St. Cecilia Street. Contractors are wrapping up the work and should be finished in early November. They are also going to repair a catch basin near Duncan Street while we are in the area.Then milling and paving will happen. We hope to have one lane open during the paving."

"I don’t know how long its going to take to open up the rest of 26th street but right now I'll settle for what I got," says Scott. "I don't want to close, this is my life."

In the meantime, he said he know it will take time to build business back up but that he has more hope today, for the future.

"Actually pay back the people who lent me money because what they did, they didn’t have to do, and I am really grateful."

RELATED: Anonymous donors help Louisville Thrift Store owner worried about keeping business alive amid sewer project

RELATED: 'I'm probably within two weeks of closing': Louisville Thrift Store worried about staying open during sewer project

Contact reporter Gabrielle Harmon at GHarmon@whas11.com or on Facebook or Twitter.

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