Walls of plywood stand around one of the front entrances of Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken.

Inside the Cherry Road restaurant on one of those plywood walls, a sign says, "Keep Out," but owner Kara Westermann has added her own decorations, including a sign reading, "Good Food. Good Friends. Good Times."

"You can fix walls," she said. "You can't fix a life."

Earlier this month, a loyal Lee's customer in her 80s mistook the gas for the brake on her Mazda mini-van and drove into the restaurant.

A family was eating in the back of the restaurant at the time but was not injured. Later, Westermann said she and staff viewed footage from the restaurant. The family - a husband, wife and daughter - took their food to a table next to the bay windows in front. Then, for whatever reason, the family moved to a table in the back.

Had they stayed at that table, they could have been hurt by the van's impact.

"It gives me chills just telling you about it now," Westermann said Tuesday. "We could not be happier that no one was hurt."

New friends, charity work

Westermann believes everything happens for a reason, and what started as restaurant damage has resulted in new friends and charity work.

The loyal customer comes to the restaurant more than ever, calling in for her roasted chicken that she likes a certain way.

"She's very sweet," Westermann said. "We always come around the counter and give her a big hug."

One day after the accident, they sent the customer a card and flowers, assuring her everything would be OK.

Originally, the restaurant had closed its dining room for a day. Damage from the accident appeared to be shattered windows and a damaged wall, but further investigation revealed part of the roof line and structure had been damaged, Westermann said. City inspectors and engineers had to inspect the restaurant to make sure it was structurally sound and not a danger to anyone before they could re-open.

Because they were closed for longer than they had anticipated, they gave much of the prepared food to the Blackmon Road community and began working with Love N Cherish, a local group that helps take care of the underprivileged.

Mary Roseborough, CEO of Love N Cherish, said the organization also helps feed the hungry, and when they called Lee's for a donation, she said Westermann was more than happy to help.

Roseborough and her organization were able to give out food to seniors and people in the community who they knew were in need.

"She has really been a blessing to our organization, and we really appreciate it," she said.

The restaurant held a shoe and clothing drive for Love N Cherish, and plans to have a back-to-school drive this summer.

"It's been very gratifying to get to know them and see what their work does in the community," Westermann said. "It's been a great group of people to find. When they say everything happens for a reason, it really does."

A damage estimate has not been completed, but it's more than the initial $7,000, she said.

The plywood walls will be up for awhile longer, but Westermann said they've been joking with customers that it's a chicken coop.

Most of the new restaurant wall has been completed. Next will be windows and floors, and last will be fixing the roof.

The progress is going smoothly and the contractors have been amazing, she said.

Westermann is looking forward to having the restaurant's two front bay windows back.

"We can't wait to have our sunshine back," she said.