“Storm-torn restaurant reopens”

Posted: 04 Oct 2010 08:21 PM PDT

Updated: Monday, 04 Oct 2010, 11:23 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 04 Oct 2010, 10:52 PM EDT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Alexander's on the Bay in Virginia Beach is back in business after nearly a year of devastation and setbacks.

As co-owner Denice Shafiee showed WAVY.com the new bar she explained, "This part of the restaurant actually caved in. We're called Alexander's On the Bay, but at that we were Alexander's in the Bay."

The November Nor'easter of 2009, destroyed the restaurant. Chick's Beach area locals went down to the Chesapeake Bay that night.

Dave Olszewski said, "The Nor'easters were pounding. The night it collapsed I walked out of the house in my rain gear and was right at the edge of the parking lot watching the waves hit the top of the building almost. We knew it was going to go crumble."

It did. The bar area, deck, and roof all collapsed. The storm washed out the parking lot.

After hashing out insurance details, the owners started to rebuild. But in March, another disaster hit. Fire ripped through an upstairs area of the vacant building.

"It was raining very hard that day and the fire started upstairs in the driest part of the building," Shafiee recalled.

Investigators ruled the fire suspicious.

Now, the fire is history. The construction is complete. And the new Alexander's is improved with reinforced walls and a foundation that is expected to withstand the winds and waves common to the coast.

Customers, employees, and owners are back together again, anticipating a great future.

"We're just looking forward to persevering on and delivering a fine dinner to each and every single person that walks in the door," Shafiee said.

About a dozen and a half people work at Alexander's. Shafiee said she is happy that many of the employees who were with her when the storm hit, have come back to work with her and her husband again.

Olszewski, who hugged a couple of other patrons and the bartender when he walked in Monday night added, "It's really close and convenient. And it has a great water view. And the food's really delicious... I think it's a nice mix of folks that makes it a nice community, and I think that's what makes it a pleasant experience," said Olszewski.

Alexander's still has some challenges ahead. Most of the Santa figures the restaurant places outside each year for its "Santa Count" fundraiser were either damaged in the fire or stolen in thefts while the building was under construction. Shafiee said she hopes to continue the tradition this year if she can get donated Santa's.

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