Kimball's Ya'Sou restaurant reopens after 2025 flood damage

Ya'Sou, the Greek restaurant on Kimball’s Main Street, reopened its doors at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, resuming service after being shuttered by flood-related damage in 2025. The reopening, which coincided with owner Markella Balasis Gianato’s birthday, marks a visible milestone in the town’s long recovery from last year’s flooding.

The restaurant’s return restores a familiar gathering spot for residents and returns a local employer to full operation. Ya'Sou had been closed for months while repairs to kitchen equipment, dining spaces and the building’s infrastructure were completed. The reopening required coordinated efforts from contractors, suppliers and community volunteers who helped clear debris and support restoration work, reflecting a wider push across Kimball to get small businesses back online.

For a community where independent restaurants and shops form an outsized share of local commerce, Ya'Sou’s reopening has economic as well as social significance. Small businesses drive foot traffic, keep jobs local and contribute to the town’s tax base; when one returns, it helps spur activity that benefits neighboring businesses and service providers. Local leaders have emphasized that each reopened storefront strengthens Kimball’s ability to attract customers from surrounding McDowell County and sustain year-round economic activity.

The flood damage in 2025 disrupted supply lines and local spending patterns, and many proprietors faced lengthy wait times for insurance settlements and repairs. Reopening efforts like Ya'Sou’s signal progress on those fronts, even as some businesses remain in various stages of recovery. Owners and residents have said that reopening is not just about one kitchen returning to service—but about restoring normal rhythms to a town working to rebound.

Beyond immediate commerce, the restaurant’s reopening serves as a morale boost. Regulars who missed Ya'Sou’s menu and neighborhood conversations now have a place back at their table, and the timing with the owner’s birthday gave the day added local color. For a community accustomed to supporting neighbors through tough seasons, the celebration was both personal and public.

What comes next is sustained momentum: continued repair of flood-damaged properties, steady customer support for reopened businesses, and attention to infrastructure improvements that reduce future flood risk. For Kimball residents, Ya'Sou’s return is a practical reminder that recovery can be incremental but real—and that local small businesses remain central to the town’s economic and social revival.