ATLANTA — Sam Weyman watched the work all week long. His sarcasm rang out outside his restaurant, the Steamhouse Lounge. For nearly a week, the restaurant has withstood water damage from a broken water main at 11th St. and W. Peachtree St.
Beyond the devastation and destruction, Weyman's now watching his bottom line.
"I guess we've lost about $60K," Weyman said. "It's been tough. We've been closed since Friday night."
Midtown Alliance said it was still too early to know the total financial impact of the Midtown water main break. Some businesses were able to operate with minimal disruption, but others, like 11th Street Pub, were in the direct crosshairs of the water main break. The owner of that restaurant said he would heavily rely on insurance to recoup some of the costs of his place. Millions of gallons of gushing water busted windows Friday night, caused thousands of dollars in damage and closed the bar indefinitely.
Another major water main break happened earlier Friday around Joseph E. Boone Blvd and J.P. Brawley Dr. The two major water events caused the city to enforce a boil water advisory for several days.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Invest Atlanta started a small business recovery fund of $5 million to help impacted businesses. The businesses must contact the city to coordinate getting a chunk of the fund.
"Water might have come into their business or impacted operations directly," Dickens said. "Those businesses are being visited right now.
Al Wiggins, Jr., commissioner of the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, could not give a firm timeline for when the road might reopen in Midtown, but he cautioned residents and business owners that the city had learned from the past few days.
“I believe we’re much more prepared than we were in the past, because of the devices we’re installing, some of the inspections taking place," Wiggins said. "Our residents should not be worried at all. This is a unique set of circumstances.”
While repairs have been completed in Midtown, it could still take several more hours for the water to become drinkable again and for the road to open back up. Until then, Weyman will have to wait for conditions to improve for customers to come back to his establishment.
"I have water, but nobody can get here," Weyman said.