Claudio's Open For Business After Sandy Damage

Not even Superstorm Sandy could stand in the way of some of Greenport's most popular and long-running businesses.

Bill Claudio said on Tuesday that his eateries, which sustained significant damage during the storm, will be open on time and ready for the summer season.

Claudio's Restaurant, he said, opened on time on March 21 for the season.  Claudio's Clam Bar will open its doors, right on schedule, on May 3. And Crabby Jerry's will follow, Claudio said.

"The last of the repairs are being done now to the main dock at Crabby Jerry's, which took significant damage," Claudio said. Despite the storm's wrath, Crabby Jerry's is slated to open on time, the week before Memorial Day.

The repairs have been extensive, Claudio said: At the Crabby Jerry's dock, bulkhead pilings were 60 percent destroyed. "Twelve-by-twelve timbers snapped," he said.

"If you're ever in the middle of a major storm and want to see raucous waves, stand upstairs at the restaurant and look down -- there were seven and eight foot waves rolling over the docks and lifting them up," Claudio said. 

The storm surge, combined with fierce winds, he said, resulted in extensive damage. Roofs were torn off at Claudio's Clam Bar and Crabby Jerry's, with  severe damage to the two docks protruding into Greenport Harbor.

After Sandy, Claudio said the damage sustained from the storm was on par with the worst storm he had seen in his 70-plus years – since 1954's Hurricane Carol.

But despite the storm, Claudio remained steadfast in his commitment to weather the stormy seas: "'We shall return,' as MacArthur once said," he said.

Claudio's Restaurant fared better than the Clam Bar and Crabby Jerry's, and was up and running within 36 hours of the storm, Claudio said back in the fall. Staff had elevated equipment in the restaurant on cinder blocks so nothing was below 16 inches, Claudio said. The restaurant got over 10 inches of water on the ground floor, though not enough to do too much harm.

The Clam Bar and Crabby Jerry's, due to their unique positions on the water – literally – faced unique challenges. Right after the storm, the docks were taped off to the public as debris was cleared. 

"The docks are such a mess that we don't want anyone out there," he said six months ago. "We've fenced it off so nobody falls through the holes, planks or what have you."

But despite months of repairs, the Greenport favorites are ready -- on time -- to welcome diners and visitors for the new season, Claudio said.