Here, now, is an updated guide to the restaurants that are still closed because of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. When Eater started this map back in November 2012, it had well over 70 restaurants struggling to reopen. Now, at the start of 2014, this list is down to six. Several places have reopened just in the past month or so, and several more are getting close. Read on below the map for a thorough rundown of all the restaurants that have been removed, either because they reopened or because they closed for good.
Do you know about any other restaurants out there that have quietly shuttered, quietly reopened, or are still working to rebuild? Please do let us know about anything we've missed, and continue to send news of all Sandy-damaged restaurants our way.
January 10, 2014:
According to a Facebook post, Seaport trattoria Il Brigante reopened in early November. Before that it had been doing limited delivery, serving food made in an off-site kitchen. Then in early December, Jack's Stir Brew Coffee also reopened in the Seaport. Nelson Blue, the Seaport's New Zealand-centric restaurant, reopened just in time to ring in the New Year. Out on Staten Island, Puglia by the Sea, which was badly damaged in the storm, just reopened three weeks ago, and Disara on Roma Avenue reopened before the New Year as well.
Next to reopen is most likely the iconic River Cafe. It opened its main dining room for a New Year's Day brunch, and is now taking dinner reservations for when it reopens, which should be on February 1.
Stella Manhattan Bistro will not reopen as it was, but owner Fernando Dallorso is currently giving it a total revamp. He hopes to open his new still-unnamed seafood restaurant in the space by March.
October 29, 2013:
The month of October saw a string of re-openings. First of those was the Seaport's beloved Paris Cafe, followed by Keg No. 229 just up the block. Then the Water Club opened its dining room for the first time since the storm, and shortly after Suteishi in the Seaport did the same. Bruckner Bar & Grill in the Bronx also reopened this month, albeit under new management.
In other Seaport news, Barbalu, the new Italian restaurant from half the team behind Barbarini Alimentari, is now partially open in the space that formerly held that Sandy-shuttered restaurant. The rest of the restaurant will open in "late fall."
The status of Stella Manhattan Bistro in South Street Seaport was for a long time uncertain, but now signs posted in the windows advertise a "new seafood restaurant and bar" coming soon, which indicates the Stella most likely is no longer.
Earlier this week, Robert Sietsema noted another closure that fell beneath the radar: LaRocca's, a beloved Staten Island pizzeria, never reopened after the storm.
The BayHouse and the Sugar Bowl, two Breezy Point bars that reopened in temporary structures for the summer are just now beginning work on rebuilding their permanent buildings. Sean Sheridan, the owner of the BayHouse, tells Eater that he hopes to pour the foundation by December, before it gets too cold. The Sugar Bowl hopes for the same, and with any luck both will be open by May.
October 6, 2013:
A couple of places have reopened since the last update. Bin No. 220 is now in soft opening-mode, after reopening last month. Red Hook's beloved Sunny's Bar reopened with a big birthday bash at the end of August. The owners of Di Sara on Staten Island send word that the restaurant opened at the end of last month.
As for closures, Harbour Lights was not able to bounce back before the entire Pier 17 mall (except for Simply Seafood) shuttered last month. Down the street, all signs point to the end for Samsara. Adam Weprin of the neighboring Bridge Cafe says he believes the owner is looking to sell. Merchants NY Cafe is also closed for good, but the same ownership, Merchants Hospitality, has opened Clinton Hall in its place.
July 22, 2013:
A number of restaurants have reopened. In Red Hook, Home/Made fully reopened this week; in Queens, The Bayhouse and Sugar Bowl have reopened, as well as Caracas Arepa Bar. And in Staten Island, Joe & John Toto's is back open, while the other most-affected restaurants in the borough continue to struggle.
At the other end of the spectrum, Capsouto Freres has been removed from the list because it will not reopen, with that space being taken over by the owners of Midtown's Café China, and Coral Bay Café in Staten Island is, by all evidence, closed for good because of damage from the storm.
May 30, 2013:
The original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand on Surf Avenue in Coney Island reopened a few days before its Memorial Day target. Zigolini's in the Financial District is back open with a take-out deli and a new taqueria attached called Guac Star. In The Rockaways, Caracas Arepa Bar is not yet open though it did a pop-up for Memorial Day, while beachside neighbors Rockaway Taco and Ripper's are back open, as are Connolly's Bar and Bungalow Bar. Thai Rock's outdoor patio is open while repairs continue inside. (Bungalow Bar and Thai Rock are also pushing for more parking to help get in crowds for this "make-or-break" summer season.)
In Staten Island, Marina Café is back open, while Joe & John Toto's hopes to reopen next week. And in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar has reopened for the season. Update: Obao on Water Street opened Friday, May 31, for the first time since Hurricane Sandy.
May 13, 2013:
Coney Island institution Totonno's sprung back to life on March 24. Fika Espresso Bar at 66 Pearl St. reopened last month, and the Dumbo location of Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory reopened at the end of April.
Grandma's House in the South Street Seaport currently has both a marshal's note in the window and a "for rent" sign — it's done. Antica Venezia, located right on West St. near the Hudson River, has been closed since the storm without any update since November. The phone number to the restaurant has been disconnected, and its website redirects to sister establishment Il Tinello. Anderson's Annex Tavern on Staten Island was completely wiped out, and the bar has not posted any information about its return over the last six months. And Demi Monde has not showed any signs of life since closing last November. These four restaurants have been removed from the map above. Check out a list of the other restaurants that closed for good because of Sandy here.
March 12, 2013:
A number of restaurants have reopened, including Almondine, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Perry St., Luke's Lobster, and Flea Market Café. On Maiden Lane, Hot Clay Oven and Potbelly have reopened, while Pret A Manger will not return. Red Restaurant in the South Street Seaport is also officially closed for good.
February 6, 2013:
Chop't, the Stumptown roastery in Red Hook, and the Potbelly Sandwich Shop on Maiden Lane all reopened in the last two weeks. The owners of Cha Cha's and Governor have decided not to reopen their restaurants. Several restaurants on this map are now hosting private events, and a few are offering delivery.
January 15, 2013:
Footprints in Coney Island is back in business, and the restaurant is offering a "reopening special" until January 20.
Goodburger on Maiden Lane will become a location of Clarke's Standard sometime later this year. It has been removed from this list.
January 3, 2013:
According to a post on Facebook, Sequoia NY is now closed for good. The post notes: "After the damage from Hurricane Sandy and our lease coming to an end, the decision has been made to close Sequoia a little earlier than intended."
The Good Fork returned on New Year's Eve, and the restaurant is now open during its regular hours.
Home/Made opened for a special New Year's Eve dinner, but it remains closed. The owners hope to reopen in full by the end of the month.
The downtown location of Dig Inn Seasonal Market reopened today.
The Water Club is open now for private events, though a full reopening date is not set.
Cabana in the Seaport reopened before Christmas.
Tatania Restaurant reopened a few weeks ago.
Nunzio's Pizzeria and Restaurant reopened before the holidays.
Flea Market Cafe hopes to reopen in February.
The owners of Luke's Lobster hope to reopen by Valentine's Day.
Jack's Stir Brew Coffee remains closed, but the Jack's team is selling coffee from a table outside the still-closed storefront, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The owners of Barbarini Alimentari have parted ways and they are not going to reopen in this location. The restaurant has been removed from this list.
SUteiShi is still closed, but the restaurant has begun offering a limited menu for dinner delivery, Monday through Saturday, 5 to 10:30 p.m.
Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar will be open in the fall, according to the restaurant's website.
The River Cafe is closed until further notice. The restaurant's site notes: " We hope you had a wonderful New Year. The River Cafe is still closed and we are without an approximate reopening date."
Almondine owner Hervé Poussot just put his Park Slope bakery up for rent while he rebuilds the Dumbo space.
The owners of Marina Cafe hope to reopen this spring.
Colonnade reopened at the end of November according to the Staten Island Advance.
MP Taverna is back in action.
Red Hat reopened on December 18.
November and December 2012:
Fort Defiance won't be back to its normal state for months, but they are now open and serving drinks and food.
· Gargiulo's tweets a photo of their holiday decorations? they reopened on December 1.
· Mark Joseph Steakhouse on Water Street reopened on December 3.
Much of the South Street Seaport is still hurting. Eater hears that power is back on in Pier 17 but that business owners are still waiting as the building gets checked out.
· Vetro in Howard Beach has reopened.
· The Porterhouse at Fraunces Tavern reopened on November 30.
· Lyon has been taken off the list. Although it never reopened after Sandy, Eater hears that storm damage was not the main reason for its closure.
· Lucky Strike reopened on December 6.
· Acqua reopened on December 8. From the restaurant's Facebook page: "YES! We are finally OPEN after superstorm Sandy hit us hard! Every day Lunch and Dinner with full menu and full bar!!!"
· On Maiden Lane in the Financial District, Yushi, Chipotle, and Just Salad have reopened, but several other chains remain closed, including Goodburger, Potbelly, and Pret A Manger.
Do you know of a restaurant in your neighborhood that is still shuttered because of Hurricane Sandy? Please send that information to the tipline. Are you a restaurateur affected by Sandy? The Mayor's Office wants to help.
· All Coverage of Hurricane Sandy [~ENY~]
— Previous reporting by Amanda Kludt, Greg Morabito, Alexander Hancock, Marguerite Preston, Anne Goldberg, and Layla Khabiri.
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