Ravaged by Sandy but back in business

This 40-year-old pub is located less than 200 feet from The Salty Paw, but because the building's technology was easier to replace, it was able to reopen in two weeks.

"We lucked out because our staff came in immediately as if it were a regular day," said owner Jeremy Holin, who estimated about $100,000 in damages. "They didn't know if they would be paid, they just wandered in and said, 'What can I do?' "

Holin received a $25,000 local grant and worked around the clock to reopen. Neighbors helped scrub floors and rip down walls, while people he did business with offered equipment and workers with no talk of repayment.

For about a month, Holin said, the bar was one of the area's only open businesses.

"Business has recovered quite a bit, but it's down even now," he said. "Once people moved out, a lot of them didn't move back. Office buildings and residential spaces across from us are still empty."