By: Angelica Proano
It has been a little over a month since super storm Hurricane Sandy, but there are still businesses in affected neighborhoods that remain with their doors closed. On the strip of Crossbay Blvd, in the Ozone Park/ Howard Beach neighborhood, at least two businesses have their doors closed for every block. The streets are still flooded with trash of lost goods and materials for the reconstruction of these businesses.
One of many “Closed” signs on local businesses
Two well-known chain businesses that have their doors closed for business is Petco and CVS Pharmacy. Both of these stores are locked down and completely empty. In their parking lots loaded in garbage trucks remain: racks, products and all the goods they sold that were damaged. There is no sign of any reconstruction on these two store yet, which leaves customers going to other places of the same industry to buy what they need. This may cause a strain for some customers, as they might have to spend a little more in traveling and buying what they need.
Petco empty and shut down
As a consumer of Petco, and a resident to this area, I have experienced first hand what the strains of such a business being closed comes with. In looking for another Petco near by, I realized that I would have to drive up to five miles to get to one, now if I wanted another chain pet store the distance would be either the same or greater. This left me with no choice than to become a customer to the local family owned pet store: Animal Pantry located ¼ mile away from Petco. There is one huge problem with being a customer to this store and that is the prices. Unlike Petco, where you have discounts with your pet pal card and genetic goods, Animal Pantry does not offer any of these. The prices for a bag of dog food is at least $20 more, the price for a leash is $10 more and so on. The only good side to coming to the local pet store is you will not waste more money on gas. At the end of the day it becomes an even exchange in a way. I spoke to a few customers in Animal Pantry who like myself were Petco customers. One customer, Vinny LoCasio says “ I rather come here and spend a little more than to go to Brooklyn and waste money on gas, I just hope that Petco gets back into business because I am not sure how long I can handle paying so much for dog food.” As for the owner who wished to remain anonymous states “Even though it’s a tragedy of what happened to the local businesses in Howard Beach, I am glad that I have more customers and that I am making more sales.” As some businesses lose because of Sandy others are winning.
CVS sign on the side of the store
With one CVS in Ozone Park and one in Howard Beach, with the Howard Beach CVS completely shut down all their customers are sent to the one in Ozone Park. One day going to my local CVS, I realize a full parking lot and traffic to get into the parking lot. I asked myself if something happen, after a 20 minute wait for parking as I walk into the CVS I see a line I have never seen before for the cash registers. I approached a worker and asked what was going on and Sarah says, “The other CVS stores are closed so everyone from Howard Beach and Far Rockaway are here.” Waiting in line for over 30 minutes, I suggest to the manager that some of the employees from the closed down CVS stores should be brought here to work, he replies with “ Most of their employees are here working now, but we are still adjusting to the number of customers we are getting.”
Entrance to Howard Beach sign
Both customers and owners of businesses suffer in the aftermath of Sandy. Some businesses lose as others gain new customers and more business. Other businesses have to adjust to the overflow of new customers and adjusting their new bigger staff. Customers have to adjust to new stores, bigger lines, and more expensive goods. However, residences of these areas are hoping that soon things will get back to normal in the Ozone Park/ Howard Beach area.
