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urricane Irene has severely affected Oriental businesses. The storm and its record surge has flooded dining rooms, display areas and stock rooms. For businesses to get back on their feet, that means lots of pulling out carpets and drying out walls.

More immediately, there is the lack of power. Without electricity, gas pumps, freezers, cash registers and computers don’t work.

Still, merchants are working hard to turn their “Closed” signs to “Open.” The following is a list of village businesses and their plans to open post-Irene.

Updated Tuesday 12:52a – updating often today

Village Health & Fitness They will be close 4pm today. Then back to regular hours Wednesday, opening the pool and facility at 6am.

The Village Food Emporium: Info updated Monday – owner Bama Lutes Deal says “VFE will again offer food today (Monday) from 3 to 4. Today’s sandwich will be chicken salad on whole wheat bread. I sure wish Eastern Propane could refill soon as my generator fuel supply won’t last forever. But my large refrigerator is staying below 40 degrees between Gen runs. I have lots of shelf stable bread. Plan to reopen for breakfast and lunch as soon as we get power and an all clear from Dept Environmental Health.”

The Silos: The Silos are on high ground and had no damage. The restaurant will reopen Thursday at 11am. Owner Doug Delisle says “we have our fresh food deliveries scheduled.” The Pantry (the specialty goods/grocery store in The Silos) will be open Wednesday at 11am.

Oriental Village Veterinary The Vet office got almost no flooding – Sherri Hicks says they placed tarps and sand bags at the door – and it worked! The office is open partial hours Tuesday and back to a regular schedule starting Wednesday.

The Bean: Owner Eric Kindle says he hopes The Bean can re-open for coffee and muffins on Friday. The Bean was flooded but they hope to be back soon to deliver badly needed caffeine.

Miss Ruth’s Town and Country Grocery: The grocery store is now open.

Village Hardware Store: Now open.

Frank’s Mini-Mart in Oriental: Now open.

Inland Waterway Provision Company: They were flooded. Closed until the business repairs hurricane damage.

West Marine: West Marine was open Monday taking cash and writing down credit cards. Now open, normal biz hours, 8a-5p.

Brantley’s Restaurant: The restaurant was not flooded, however due to the power outage they still need a health inspection to re-open. Norman Brantley, Jr, says the restaurant plans to be open this Friday. (They get a new shipment of food Thursday.)

M&Ms Cafe: Owner Dave Sargent is replacing equipment damaged by hurricane Irene – there was flooding. He hopes to have have light lunch and dinner available by the weekend.

Garland Fulcher Seafood Market: No power? No problem? Jeff Styron reports the business plans to be open this Thursday “even if we have to use a calculator and coolers.”

Nautical Wheelers: An inch of water snuck in during Irene. Bill and Camilla Wheeler report they are drying out their business and hope to open by Tuesday. In a pinch, though, they report that can accept cash before then for emergency purchases.

Oriental Marina Inn / Toucan Grill / Tiki Bar: Tom McIlhenny says the Tiki Bar will be back in biz Monday afternoon starting at 4p, even if there is no power (there will be beer & ice coolers). The Toucan Grill has already been cleaned out and is awaiting power restoration – they hope to be in operation before the weekend. The Inn was flooded in the 1st floor units, but the second floor units were unaffected. With power back, the Inn is open. The first floor units are being cleaned (cleaning crews were there Sunday), however their availability is not yet known.

Village Gallery: There was substantial flooding to the building. No art work was damaged, but flooring, etc was. The Gallery expects to be back in about a month.

Marsha’s Cottage: Owner Marsha Paplham says that 10 inches of water flooded her store, damaging the wood floor. No merchandise was lost and she hopes to open “as soon as possible – possibly by the weekend.”

Oriental Dental: Roger Cordes says the Dental office will be closed until the power comes back on and they are able to assess the damage to the office and equipment.

Broad Street Grill: Eric Strickrath says the restaurant stayed dry & will open as soon as possible after power is restored.

All business hours and open/closed info above. If you have business info to add send it to news@towndock.net.

On the following page is photos from businesses the day after Irene.
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The Oriental harbor Saturday morning at 7:45a. With the eye of hurricane Irene just south of town, white out conditions took over and waters began flooding local businesses. The Bean coffee shop is visible in the center of the photo. Within strolling distance, and all affected by the storm surge, are the Garland Fulcher Seafood Market, Marsha’s Cottage, the Inland Waterway Provision Company, the Oriental Marina Inn / Toucan Grill / Tiki Bar, M&Ms Cafe and the Village Gallery. All businesses plan to reopen as quickly as possible.

Inside the Bean: most Sundays, these floors are covered in the shoes and sandals of folks looking for a cup of java. This past Sunday, they were covered in a fine layer of mud. The Bean flooded with over 6 inches of muddy water during Irene. When the water receded, it didn’t take the mud with it.

Not a good day to quit smoking: Oriental Police Chief Dwaine Moore and Miss Ruth of the Town and Country grocery store explain to customers why they can’t be served. With no power for lighting, refrigeration and cash registers, the store remained closed. Most-requested items included beer and cigarettes. Still, there was hope for those with perishables that needed cooling. Customers could purchase as many bags of ice as they wanted for $1 – as long as they lasted. The business plans to open Monday.

Jamie Berry with one of 5 bags of ice he purchased at the Town and Country.

The gas sign may be down but Frank’s Mini-Mart in Oriental is open. Here, customers are shown parked by the fuel pumps on Sunday afternoon. With power still not restored, they were unable to purchase gasoline. Meanwhile, inside…

a customer stocks up on snacks.

Nautical wheelers in the eye of hurricane Irene. By the time this photo was taken, the waters had already receded approximately one foot. Unfortunately, at the height of the flooding, the first floor was covered in one inch of water. Owners Bill and Camilla Wheeler report they were able to raise their inventory above the water. Bill says the hurricane experience is “all part of Oriental.”

It only takes an inch of water to ruin a carpet. Here, a pile of ruined floor coverings in front of Nautical Wheelers waits for a ride to the landfill.

Trash Cans! Trash Bags! Hurricane clean up supplies – along with the usual rebuilding supplies – will be available at the Village Hardware store on Monday.

Posted Sunday August 28, 2011 by Bernie Harberts