Community Corner

Paninis and Bikinis to Make Post-Sandy Return

Owner was a recipient of a National Grid grant.

Paninis and Bikinis, a West End deli-restaurant that sustained heavy damages in Hurricane Sandy last October, is expected to start serving its signature flatbread sandwiches again later this month.

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Owner Jason Schatzberg will reopen his eatery, at 896 W. Beech St., in two weeks, he told the Long Beach Herald after a press conference at The Saloon on June 4, when National Grid announced that it had provided 35 grants, amounting to $1.1 million, to various businesses in Long Beach, Atlantic Beach and Island Park.

Schatzberg, a recipient of the grant after he applied for the utility company’s program that offers up eligible businesses up to $250,000 in aid, said:

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“We’re very excited to be back. I’m pretty much one of the last guys to reopen since the storm — economically, my life was shattered.”
Schatzberg said he didn’t have flood insurance, was unable to repair his storm-damaged store out of his own pocket after he just completed expanding into a neighboring vacancy last summer, and was hindered by a slow reimbursement process when applying for federal assistance. National Grid was able to issues checks to eligible businesses starting in February.

"Like everything, it’s a process,” he told the Herald, “and I can honestly say that I’ve received more help from National Grid than any other agency.”

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