OMAHA, Neb. -- Von Maur reopened at 10 a.m. Thursday after a gunman took nine lives inside the store on Dec. 5.

Employees joined hands and walked in to a cheer from the gathered crowd. The company held a brief observance in memory of those injured, lost and affected by the tragedy before reopening its doors.

Employees cried as Mayor Mike Fahey and religious leaders spoke. The victims' names were read, and then Jim von Maur welcomed Omaha back to his store.

"It is with great respect for those injured and lost in the senseless tragedy of Dec. 5 that we move forward with reopening our store today," said Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur, in remarks released to the media. "While it is difficult to forge ahead after such an unspeakable loss, we do so with the incredible support of Omaha and its surrounding communities, and the strength and fortitude of our trusted associates."

The retailer's president said his employees demanded the reopening, and 95 percent of them returned to work on Thursday.

"They are such a tight-knit group and they have really done so well and leaned on each other," von Maur said. "From what were hearing, this is the best response of a company that's gone through a tragedy."

A few minutes before 10, hundreds of people were lined up outside and inside waiting for the store to allow them back inside. Before noon, the store was filled hundreds of holiday shoppers.

The first shoppers in said they got some of the best customer service of their lives.

"It feels great to come back," said shopper Lori Belford. "Wouldn't have missed it for anything."

Other shoppers said Omaha's response to the store's opening shows how the community responds to tragedy.

Bonnie Skartvedt closed her own store so her employees could shop at Von Maur for half an hour.

"I gave the employees a little bit of cash, and I said, 'Let's go over and do what we all want to do, and that's shop at Von Maur,'" Skartvedt said. "We were so happy to hear they were opening the store again, and can't wait to be one of the first shoppers in there."

There was an increased police and security presence. Shoppers were also met with eight wreaths to commemorate the victims.

As the day went on, some clerks reported 20-minute lines as people spent holiday money at Von Maur. Shoppers said they were showing their support with their wallets.

"The makeup, the jewelry, the purses -- everything was so packed, and it was just amazing that people came out and did not seem to be flustered by it," said Shela Harding.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and his wife, Sally Ganem, shopped at the Von Maur on Thursday evening. His office said he planned to spend about an hour shopping and talking to employees and shoppers.

Man Wounded Supports Reopening

Among the people in support of the retailer's reopening is Omaha attorney Jeff Schaffart, who was shopping with his wife on Dec. 5 when he was hit by gunfire. Much of the city and the nation watched video of Schaffart walking out with paramedics, holding up his injured arm.

Schaffart said he has been back to Westroads twice since then to see the memorials outside.

"It was really touching to go up there. I was somewhat emotional driving up and seeing it for the first time. I got out, thankfully nobody recognized me. I went up, looked at all three sides, and just took a moment to think of how lucky I was, that there wasn't nine names," Schaffart said.

Schaffart said he is deeply saddened for the eight who didn't make it out, but he said getting the store back in business is important.

"That's part of the healing process. If it's closed forever, we allow the shooter to win. We can't let him control our lives," he said.

Westroads Memorializes Victims

About 200 people gathered in the cold outside Omaha's Von Maur store Wednesday night for a brief prayer service before removing hundreds of items memorializing eight murder victims.

A minister said a short prayer and then the crowd spontaneously broke into the song "Silent Night."

It was a turning point toward healing for Omaha's Bill Clavin, who lost his sister, Diane Trent, in a shooting rampage.

"She would have been real touched by that," Clavin said, describing the handwritten notes, snowflakes, candles and plush animals that have graced the entrance of the store since the tragedy."

Clavin brought his family to the store Wednesday night to gather items from the makeshift memorial that were special to them. Each family of the victims was given a large bin to save items from the storefront.

Members of the local historical society will help document the items until plans for a permanent memorial are in place.

Fahey said on Wednesday night that the impact of the shootings will stay with the community.

"This will take some time. This won't be over in a few days. It'll take a few years when Dec. 5th rolls around before we forget this tragedy," Fahey said.

But for Clavin, the support of the community, the e-mails, letters and handmade memorials are going a long way in starting the healing process.

"Even though this was an evil, tragic event, Diane's looking down and wanting us to be positive and move forward," Clavin said.

Schaffart said he hopes he'll be able to go back inside Von Maur.

As he heals physically and emotionally, he said he has some people to thank.

"Thank you to the first responders who showed so much bravery and courage going in there to face a gunman. Thank you to all of the doctors, and thank you to the community for their support," Schaffart said.

Schaffart said that down the road, he sees himself possibly becoming involved in gun control efforts. The gunman used an AK-47 assault rifle.

Schaffart said he would also like to get involved with the mental health system, and possibly serve as a mentor to prevent another tragedy from happening.

A United Way-administrated fund for victims families now totals $843,000. An initial check for $5,000 has been sent to each family to help with expenses.