Local Businesses Coping With Blizzard Aftermath

People on Long Island are generally accustomed to snow. Many people even like snow, especially the first real snowfall of the season. But unless you're a student hoping to get the day off from school, chances are you like your snow in moderation.

As one can imagine, local Merrick businesses are feeling the effects of the recent blizzard, some more than others.

For Helen Malchow, an owner of Ward's Delicatessen, the snowstorm on Sunday night and Monday morning has led to a dip in business over the past couple of days.

Malchow said that business was decent on Sunday morning due in part because people were panicking about the impending storm. Malchow and her staff closed early on Sunday and braced for work the next day. Ward's employees were able to find their way to deli by way of foot on Monday because many live close by.

Business was slow throughout the day on Monday, according to Malchow, with the only business coming into the store being people who could walk there, sanitation workers and plow drivers.

Ward's was lucky to have a milk delivery come on Monday, and also had other items stocked up before the storm hit.

"There's still food on Long Island," Malchow said.

The Merrick Stop & Shop also saw a decline in its business Monday, but the bigger problem had to do with the lack of deliveries made to the grocery store.

An employee at the supermarket chain, Meira Maynard, said there was no place for trucks to make deliveries on Monday, but on Tuesday, enough snow had been cleared so one truck could fit at a time.

There was supposed to be a milk delivery made to Stop & Shop Tuesday, but as of Tuesday afternoon, the truck was still not there, according to Maynard. The grocery store had a small supply of milk left at the time.

The staff at Crave Deli & Catering did not come into work on Monday, but opened once again on Tuesday. An employee at Crave, Tim Dahle, said there have been some problems since the store reopened its doors.

The local markets that usually deliver items such as milk and bread have not received deliveries of their own recently, Dahle said, but there was a chance for a delivery later in the day Tuesday.

Business was slow Tuesday, with the only customers being the usual crowd who work nearby, Dahle said.

The recent snowfall has not put a damper on the business of Souper Fry. According to chef/owner Jonathan Passman, business has been pretty good since Sunday.

Passman credited the hot comfort food on his menu as the reason for people to brave the elements and get a bite to eat at his shop.

"Once people dug out, they came and ate," Passman said. "I was actually pleased with the way it turned out."

Souper Fry opened at 2 p.m. on Monday, instead of its regularly scheduled time of 11 a.m.  Passman said Souper Fry had enough food to supply the consumer demand, but the supply store he normally goes to has been closed the past couple of days.

Brothers Deli and Catering had to close shop on Monday and remained closed Tuesday as well.  An employee at Brothers, John Papadatos, said the staff was working Tuesday, but they were concentrating on cleaning up the parking lot and other areas affected by the snowfall.

Papadotos made it into work on Monday, but his boss could not, so the store had to be closed. Papadotos said Brothers was to reopen on Wednesday.

The snowfall affected a large number of local businesses in one way or another over the past few days and for Papadotos, Monday did not yield positive results.

"It was a lost day yesterday," Papadatos said.

Many local businesses are feeling the same way.