Jim McIngvale has opened his store for those seeking shelter from the winter storm.
Back in 2017 during Hurricane Harvey, Jim McIngvale opened multiple locations of his Gallery Furniture store to Houstonians in need of shelter. Hundreds came, invited to sleep on brand new sets of furniture, shower, use the restroom, and access the in-store restaurant.
“Being together in a space is helpful for all of us,” McIngvale told TIME magazine at the time. “People don’t feel like they’re on their own.”
Now, with Houston in the brunt of a severe winter storm – one that continues to leave thousands without power – McIngvale has re-opened his store at 6006 North Freeway to those in need, according to ABC13.
McIngvale did the same back in 2019. When Tropical Storm Imelda battered Houston with catastrophic flooding, the then 68-year-old opened his showroom as a place of refuge, while deploying a fleet of furniture trucks to rescue stranded victims.
With the current situation, energy officials have warned residents to expect extended delays in returning power.
As the time of this article, Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service has reiterated the Wind Chill Warning with temperatures as low as -5 degrees until noon today. Furthermore, NWS has issued another Winter Storm Warning from 6 pm to 6 am Thursday, with the chance of freezing rain precipitating after 6 pm.