Jeff Hunt has opened a small, temporary store in Clintonville near the site of his general store which was destroyed by fire in July. He plans to open a new full-size location next year that will include the items he sold before as well as expand into a specialty market.

CLINTONVILLE, Venango County — Jeff Hunt's faith and the community helped him transform a tragedy into a new beginning.

"Yes, I lost my store and was underinsured like most small businessmen, but at the same time, it gives me the opportunity to try a new direction with seven years of experience behind me," Hunt said. "There is an upside as well."

A fire in July gutted Hunt's Clintonville General Store at 102 Mercer St., but he decided right away to create a temporary store nearby while he plans to rebuild or find a new location. He reopened a smaller version of the store just a block away two weeks ago.

Hunt plans to reopen a new store next year that includes the items he sold before, but also he will expand into a specialty market.

He said many people in the area have Victorian items that need to be fixed or replaced, and he'd like to be their provider.

"I am looking at doing something that they don't have in the area," Hunt said. "Between Pittsburgh and Erie, they don't have anything like that. There's nothing in between and people have to go to a specialty market to replace some of these things, and it doesn't exist in this area, so that's my plan."

Hunt said he continues to dig through the ashes to build an inventory of what was lost. Through it all, he said his faith has kept him going.

"I don't walk in and walk out and feel depressed," Hunt said. "I just go in, do what needs done, and walk back out. It's a reality that maybe I haven't even faced yet. I just don't know."

Hunt said it is important for him to keep his business in the community after receiving an outpouring of support.

"I won't get rich here, but that's not my goal," Hunt said. "It's the community. You wouldn't see the amount of support I got here in a big city; it'd just be another fire."

Hunt said Alex Chester and his wife, both residents of Clintonville, have volunteered to help out in any way they can.

"They just come over and give their time and they've been a real blessing," Hunt said. "He's done all kinds of stuff and never asks for a dime. He just helps out."

Chester has lived in Clintonville for three years and met Hunt about four years ago. He said it's important for him to lend a helping hand because "it's all about the community."

"They need it here," Chester said. "If you need a hook or something, if this store wasn't here, they'd have to go all the way to Grove City — it's convenient.

Chester also said he is happy to see the temporary store coming together.

"It's really thrilling, especially after what Jeff went through," he said.

Hunt said, "I'm still numb because a lot of things have happened. It's kind of a fresh start in a way and it presents an opportunity that I didn't have before."