Business & Tech
Businesses Access Damage From Irene
Some local businesses braved the hurricane and came out a little better than before, but businesses with a lack of non-perishables hurt.
Hurricane Irene left more than 2,000 Bayport and Blue Point residents without power, and though homeowners may have reported significant damage, many local businesses suffered minimal effects.
in Blue Point increased pre- and post-hurricane. Owner Tony Brinkmann said they sold out of essential items all the way through the weekend of the storm.
“We did everything we could do to keep things in stock,” Brinkmann said. “We had trucks coming in all the way from Texas to replenish supplies.”
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The store sold out of everything hurricane-related including generators, batteries, lamp oil and flashlights. Now, Brinkman is even low on clean-up supplies needed to repair damage from Irene.
Brinkmann said his Blue Point store didn’t even lose power, despite Long Island Power Autority’s (LIPA) report that 94-percent of Blue Point residents lost power during and after Irene.
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Owner of Ms. Michelle’s Urban Gourmet, Michelle Gillette, also said she "got lucky." With the exception of a few fallen tree branches, the shop, located at the old on Middle Road in Bayport, held up without losing power or any damage.
Gillette also said the day before the hurricane, she sold out of a lot of goodies, including her gluten-free bread loafs.
“I think everybody was in a panic,” she said. “So they came in to buy bread and other things.”
However, other businesses were not so lucky. Stores that didn't offer non-perishable items didn’t fair too well during, and after, Irene. owner Seth Needleman said the hurricane had a negative effect on his business. Though his store was damage-free and kept power, he said there were a lack of customers.
“Instead of customers coming in here,” he said. “They were out buying batteries and gas and everything on Saturday.”
Needleman’s business booms in the summer, especially on the weekends. Because the hurricane hit late Saturday night and lasted through Sunday afternoon, the shop had to close. The store is also traditionally closed on Monday.
“It definitely hurt our business,” he said.
