Gladys Books and Wine in Bed-Stuy is working to recover after suffering multiple incidents of water damage in recent weeks.

While owner Tiffany Dockery says flooding has been an ongoing issue at 306 Malcolm X Boulevard, she had mostly figured out how to deal with it.

What happened on May 20 was a different story, though, with nearly a foot of water collecting in the basement, which is used as the bar area.

"Each time, you're like 'can we withstand another one?'" she said. "Honestly, this last flooding was kind of the knockout punch."

Dockery used her life savings to open Gladys as a space specifically for the Black Queer community.

"I view this as a duty because I am the product of what happens when you have stories that reflect you," she explained.

But after the first flood on May 20, and then another a few days later when it rained once more, Dockery says the landlords told her it was "an act of God," and therefore, not their responsibility to fix.

"It has felt spiritual," she said of the days and weeks after that. "It has felt like I've had to dig into the deepest parts of myself to say, like, 'Do I believe this can work?'"

Then this past Thursday, a separate plumbing issue caused water to leak from the ceiling.

Dockery had to close again for repairs on Saturday, which is usually her busiest day of the week.

"I cried," she admitted, "but I come from a line of people that don't quit."

Thanks to her community, she has not needed to quit.

More than $50,000 to support cleanup and repairs was raised through an online campaign, while neighbors and local leaders helped her apply pressure to the landlords.

"The thing that really changed is the community got involved," Dockery said, "and that's what inspires me."

In just the last week, Dockery says the landlords have committed to both fixing the main sewer line and installing a check valve back, two things that should, in theory, finally fix the flooding issues.

"I want to show people that not only do people value our stories, but that people value our business - we just need to be given a fair chance," she said.

To get that fair chance, she is now fighting to be reimbursed by the landlords and her insurance for both the repairs and the money she lost while she was closed.

As for the community, she is planning to cook at the store on Juneteenth and give out free meals to as many people as possible as a way to say thank you.