In New York, Coney Island Businesses Struggling to Reopen

Patrick Wall, house manager at Coney Island USA, moves a jukebox damaged in the flooding of the buildings that house the Coney Island Circus Sideshow and the Coney Island Museum, Nov. 15. Many businesses and nonprofits remain closed in the area, but some have been opening without power. Mario Tama/Getty Images

NEW YORK—Many businesses remain closed on Coney Island almost a month after Superstorm Sandy struck the city and the southern Brooklyn coast.

Surf, Mermaid, and Neptune avenues were submerged in 5 feet of water during the peak of the storm, according to hyperlocal blog Amusing the Zillion (ATZ), which reports that many businesses, including the famed Nathan’s Hot Dogs remained closed. A manager told Tricia Vita, who runs the blog that they are not expecting to reopen until April. Also out of business for now are Cha Cha’s, Dunkin' Donuts, and the Coney Island Beach Shop.

The area’s three nonprofits, the New York Aquarium, Coney Island USA, and the Coney Island History Project, all remain closed.

Yet some stores are opening during the day on weekends despite having no power, including Ruby’s Bar, Brooklyn Beach Shop, and Lola Star Boutique. “We close at sundown, when we can’t see anything,” said Maya Haddad of Brooklyn Beach Shop, according to ATZ. “Thanks to the Square app, we’re able to process credit cards in my cell.”

And other stores are planning to reopen soon, such as Coney Island Gyro. They broadcast the news via Twitter on Saturday. “Opening back up to feed the hungry public on Monday ... can’t wait to see everybody’s face!!”

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