Just a year ago, the Sand Bar restaurant was going through hard times when the building was flooded and eventually had to be rebuilt.

Since rebuilding, manager Kim Morris said the restaurant has been thriving.

“It’s amazing the difference that a year would make. I was looking at what we’ve got now as opposed to what we had,” Morris said. “Words can’t describe how thankful I am that we’re back open. I’m the most thankful that we’re all working again.”

Morris said that the last building was built in three sections, and had no chance of overcoming the flood.

“We were always at the mercy of the Alabama river,” Morris said. “But here we’ve built this two feet above the worst flood Selma’s ever had.”

The river crested at 58.35 feet on March 3, 1961, for the worst flood on record, and was at 49.58 feet on Dec. 28, 2015, the 13th worst flood on record.

Recently the crest was at 18.43 on Dec. 21, 2016.

Morris said she can still recall the day she went to the building after the flood, and how upsetting it was to see the place in ruins.

“I remember opening that back door and wanting to cry. I’ve never been through a flood, so I really didn’t know what I was looking at,” Morris said. “The power of water is amazing. I walked from room to room and I just couldn’t believe it. It doesn’t seem like a year, then it seems like much longer.”

Morris said business is great and they are staying busy, even during a normally slow time of the year.

“It’s crazy busy, and that’s great. This is supposed to be our down time, and we’re really not down at all,” Morris said. “The outpour of the community has been just incredible. We never dreamed we would be as busy as we are when we’re not supposed to be. I’m just absolutely tickled.”

Morris said when they began rebuilding, she told owner David Pearce what she had in mind, and he made it happen.

“I drew this bar on a piece of paper, handed it to David, and he made that dream come true,” Morris said. “I love everything about it. This is just 100 times better than what we had.”

Morris said she hopes that the business will continue to grow, and they will make the most of coming back after such devastation.

“My hopes for the future are that we will continue to grow, that the community will continue to support us and that we can continue to give them what they want,” Morris said. “Without the community, you don’t have a business.”