FAIRHOPE, Ala. — “That’s the cat I remember right there,” said Jarvis Bendolph this week, pointing to a T-shirt with a picture of Stella on its front, the Bay Break shop cat who greeted customers for years from her usual perch on the front counter next to the cash register.

Bendolph, wearing paint-stained construction clothes, was back in the Bay Break convenience store on Scenic Highway 98 for the first time since it reopened last month after a fire gutted the historic location in December 2008.

“Stella died in the fire,” owner Laura Grady told Bendolph, choking back a tear. “This is Dharma.”

With big paws to fill, a striking one-year-old white cat with the spiritual name, Dharma reached out a paw toward Bendolph from where she was standing on the store’s countertop in a new location inside the renovated shop interior.

Dharma came into Grady’s care in September and was waiting inside the renovated shop when Bay Break reopened its doors on Dec. 11. She has quickly made herself at home, charming regulars and newcomers alike in a store where music is always playing and incense often burning.

“We wanted to be open on Dec. 4, but it took us one more week,” said Grady, referring to the one-year anniversary of the fire that might have closed the store for good.

“We had an estimate done. Without all the volunteer help and donations, it would have cost more than $100,000 to reopen.”

Last year, the local community held two benefits, including a concert with three popular local bands at the American Legion Post down the street to raise money, to help rebuild and restock the popular neighborhood store.

“The main thing is I had to keep the faith,” Grady said about the yearlong effort to reopen the store. “It’s still hard to talk about it.”

Grady’s eyes often welled up this past Thursday as numerous customers came and went, hugging her and saying they were happy the store was back open.

About 11 a.m. Maureen Bass arrived. She delivers the mail in the neighborhood and stops in every day for lunch at the table that functions like a big family kitchen table, where everyone gathers for coffee and conversation all day long.

Dharma appeared suddenly when Bass opened her lunch sack and pestered Bass persistently until she was given a small bite.

“I think people are still finding out that we’re open again.”

As customers came and went Thursday morning, Bendolph looked up at the array of T-shirts in a shop where the Beatles reside comfortably next to Andy, Barney and Opie.

Bendolph said he was also glad that Bay Break had reopened.

“I’ll probably be back in here next week and get a couple of those shirts.”

As Bendolph left, Dharma trotted behind him and watched as he walked out the front door. Then she turned, ran back and hopped up on the front counter next to the cash register where Grady was waiting to scratch her behind the ear.