Businesses on Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick brace for flooding ahead of nor'easter
Many, including Circo's Pastry, spent Saturday night preparing ahead of the storm, taping up cellar doors with plastic wrap.
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Flooded basements and feet of water in the street have been the reality for businesses on Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick for decades.
Many, including Circo's Pastry, spent Saturday night preparing ahead of the storm, taping up cellar doors with plastic wrap, and testing their underground sump-pumps and drainage, purchased after their basement was ruined after a flood in 2021.
"We pray to the gods. You know, we do as much as we can. We have four pumps. We diverted water from hitting the basement as best we can," said owner Anthony Pierdipino
They say they've upgraded the sidewalks, sealed off walls, and moved merchandise to a higher level, but they say it's still no guarantee.
"We've seen cars floating down the street, feet of standing water, it's the whole street turns into a disaster," he said.
Other businesses are hoping for the sloped entrances, and DSNY efforts to keep storm drains unclogged can help them.
The area is set to get a multi-million dollar infrastructure upgrade to help increase the amount of water the sewer there can handle.
"We have the sloped entrance, but not everyone does. A lot of businesses are anxious. You know, business owners are anxious because there's literally nothing they can do until we get these big sewer upgrades," said Sal Polizzi, Tony's Pizza and Knickerbocker Merchants Association President
But with a 2029 delivery date on that fix, the businesses there tonight are anxious.
"We are all worried we are going to lose sleep tonight," Pierdipino said.
