Greenport Businesses Dry Out, Clean Up After Hurricane Sandy

Many Greenport businesses owners located near the harbor on Front and Main Streets suffered some of the worst damage from flooding on the North Fork, with that section of the village existing under flood waters from 6 to 10 inches during the overnight period of Hurricane Sandy.

Claudio’s Restaurant, Clam Bar and Crabby Jerry’s took a pounding from waves and flooding, resulting in damage that according to owner Bill Claudio will be a major effort to repair.

“The dock is all torn up at Crabby Jerry’s,” Claudio said Tuesday afternoon. “At the Clam Bar, the wall surrounding the bar area is totally torn out.”

At the historic main restaurant, Claudio said that carpeting was soaked from nearly 10 inches of flood water but had Chem-Dry come in to clean it Tuesday.

“We’ve been through this before, so fortunately we know what to do beforehand,” he said. “We raised everything off the floor at least a foot, and any refrigeration issues were not interrupted because we transferred all food into freezers and we had two generators going throughout the storm.”

John Karabelas and his family got busy Tuesday cleaning up their Front Street clothing store, Cotton Capers, which was flooded with water that would have been chest-high if anyone was standing in it.

“We have to replace the carpeting, but everything else was saved — we propped everything up,” he said.

A little farther west on Front Street, Noah’s restaurant was spared from any flooding.

“We lucked out here,” said owner and chef Noah Schwartz as he took down protective wood panels from the front windows.

Doug Cress, owner of BBQ Bills on Front Street, said that his place flooded with about eight inches of water and that he lost part of his food inventory. Cress stayed at his restaurant overnight during the hurricane.

"In seven years of business this is the worst I have ever seen flooding,"he said.

Marc LaMaina of Butta' Cakes cupcakes said he is taking damage from Sandy as a sign to switch things up at his Main Street shop, which was also flooded with water.

"I think this is a good time to do something different," he said.

Robby Beaver, owner of the Frisky Oyster on Front Street, said he too has flood damage but it is mostly in the basement. Tuesday night, a handful of Beaver's friends and churchmates from North Shore Christian Church donated a few hours of their time to help haul out food and materials ruined in the storm. Hometown America Calverton Meadows donated a truck for removal – and there was plenty to haul out, as Beaver said the water level in his basement rose to at least 70 inches.

Despite the high water level, Beaver said he hopes to be open by the end of the week.

Bill Claudio added that though this flood was bad, he has seen worse - Hurricane Carol in 1954.

"And the water just kept coming during the perfect storm in 1991," he said. "We've dealt with the water here for over 100 years. We will be ready to open again on Thursday."