Bridge Cafe Might Reopen in 'Three to Five Months'

The city's oldest continuously operating bar, The Bridge Café, is looking at a three to five month rebuilding process after Hurricane Sandy. After increasingly pessimistic signage outside that recently estimated two to three months to reopen "with some luck, lots of cash and your support," owner Adam Weprin tells the Times that it might be even longer. Weprin says that 85 to 95 percent of the wood in the basement needs to be replaced, along with all of the stoves, ovens, and refrigeration units. All told, it will be upwards of $300,000 to $400,000 in repairs. The 22-strong staff has been out of work since the storm.

Adding to the complications is the fact that, as Weprin puts it, "you open up a wall in a building from 1794, and you discover things."
· The Venerable Bridge Café Struggles to Reopen After Sandy [DJ/NYT]
· All Coverage of the Bridge Café [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of Hurricane Sandy [~ENY~]