"This Never Goes Away For Us" A Bowling Alley's Inspiring Recovery From the Lewiston Shooting

*This podcast contains references to death and violence. Listener discretion is advised.*

"It was all-consuming. It was unbelievable."

That's how Justin Juray felt on October 26, 2023, the day after the largest mass casualty event in Maine history took place in Lewiston, an event that claimed the lives of 18 innocent Mainers on a night that will never be forgotten.

But Juray, the co-owner of Just-In-Time Recreation, where eight people lost their lives, is charging forward. Determined to honor the memories of those taken far too soon, and to not let hatred win, he and his wife, Samantha, reopened the alley earlier this year despite facing seemingly insurmountable hurdles that would have permanently closed most businesses facing similar situations.

In today's conversation from Just-In-Time Recreation in Lewiston, Justin and I discuss:

The Lewiston shooting (00:00)

Buying the bowling alley (03:20)

Owning a business with his wife (08:47)

The aftermath of the Lewiston shooting (10:28)

Re-opening the alley in May 2024 (18:28)

"Lewiston Strong" (33:30)

Effects of the shooting on mental health (35:06)

What's your mission? (43:21)

How this episode came together (44:55)

Justin Juray is the co-owner of Just-In-Time Recreation, a bowling alley located in Lewiston, ME. Born in New Jersey, he moved to Maine in childhood and has stayed ever since. Along with his wife, Samantha, he purchased the bowling alley in 2021 before renovating and re-naming it.

For more information on the alley, please visit their web site here. To donate to Lewiston recovery efforts, check out MaineResiliencyCenter.org.

This podcast is hosted, written, researched, and produced by Spotify's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Troy Farkas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To support this show, please leave a review of "Seacoast Stories" on ⁠our Apple Podcasts page.