Names in the News: Ruth Gurney Reopens Max Logan's in Downtown Downers Grove

When Ruth Gurney decided to open a new home goods store in downtown Downers Grove in June, she hoped the business would benefit from a busy summer of car shows and special events.

Max Logan's Home Accents, which occupies the old  location at 5135 Main St., opened quietly on June 19, just in time for for a grand opening event during .

Just three days later, everything changed.

On the morning of June 22, Gurney received a call from the building's alarm company about a flood in the store. A toilet in the second-floor apartment had cracked overnight, causing tank water to leak for hours while the tenant was asleep.

The flood caused a section of the store's ceiling to cave, ruining the carpet and numerous pieces of merchandise.

Gurney was forced to close Max Logan's while the ceiling and carpet were replaced. Though the project was initially expected to take just a few weeks, the store has been closed for most of the summer.

"Between the insurance company and the permits, it's all taken a bit longer than we would have liked," Gurney said. "It's been an emotional experience to put in all that hard work and then miss out on most of the summer."

After more than a month of repairs and weeks of setting up the store, Max Logan's is ready to reopen. 

"I'm excited to finally open again and put everything behind us," she said.

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