Surf Avenue: Flood Line on Coney Island Mural. October 30, 2012. Photo © Jim McDonnell
Jim McDonnell, whose beautiful photos and videos of Coney Island’s amusement area are frequently featured on ATZ, took this heartbreaking set of pix on Tuesday morning, the day after Hurricane Sandy struck. As you can see in the above photo of fellow photographer Bruce Handy at Surf and Stillwell Avenues, the flood line is at about 5 feet. During the peak of the storm, Surf Avenue as well as Mermaid and Neptune Avenues and adjacent streets were submerged in water that came from the bay, Coney Island Creek, overflowing sewers and the rising tide. In an image seen on the Coney Island webcam on October 29 at 7:53pm, the amusement parks appeared to be surrounded by a moat.
Surf Avenue, Coney Island: Interior of Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. October 30, 2012. Photo © Jim McDonnell
Looking down from his apartment window high above the Aquarium, Bruce texted ATZ on Monday night at 9pm: “Coney completely flooded. Cars floating. Car on fire.” On Tuesday morning a tour of the area began to reveal the damage. Sad to see Grimaldi’s metal gate gave way to Sandy and the interior of the popular new pizzeria wrecked by the wind and flood waters. We dined there just a few days ago and it is one of our faves! The cobwebs in the above photo, which were part of the Halloween decor, look genuinely eerie. Eldorado Auto Skooter, Game World Arcade, Coney Island USA, Denny’s Ice Cream, Popeye’s, the Coney Island History Project and the game booths on both West 12th Street and the Bowery were flooded with 4 to 5 feet of water and left with interior damage yet to be assessed. November 1st Update: Also flooded in Coney’s amusement area were Nathan’s, the stores in Stillwell Terminal, the Wonder Wheel side of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park and the Aquarium. In fact all of the buildings on Surf, Mermaid and Neptune Avenues from one end of Coney Island to the other were inundated by the flood waters.
Surf Avenue, Coney Island: Shore Theater. October 30, 2012. Photo © Jim McDonnell
The sign on the Shore Theater, a New York City landmark which is vacant and for sale, was twisted and appeared to be hanging by a thread. The street was blocked off with caution tape in case it fell. Coney’s landmark rides–the Cyclone, Wonder Wheel and Parachute Jump–stood their ground against Sandy, but Steeplechase Pier was damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
Steeplechase Pier, Coney Island. October 30, 2012. Photo © Jim McDonnell
While the sand was piled up two feet high on the Boardwalk, the sandbagged stores–including Ruby’s, Lola Star and Brooklyn Beach Shop–suffered blessedly little or no damage. On Monday night at 7pm, Jimmy Kokotas of Tom’s Coney Island came to check on his store. This morning he told ATZ that he managed to get out just in time before the flood waters starting rising on Surf Avenue.
Maya Haddad of Brooklyn Beach Shop said she was very grateful that the Parks Department put up sand walls to protect the boardwalk businesses. She was able to get into her shop on Tuesday and was happy to find no water damage from the storm surge. “It didn’t look like any water got in,” Maya said. On Stillwell Avenue it was another story: “Coney Island Beach Shop was flooded 4 feet high. Most merchandise and fixtures destroyed. Wasn’t able to get into the shop in the train station either. I will assume the merchandise there was most likely also damaged.” November 21 Update: While the Boardwalk businesses escaped structural damage, with the exception of Tom’s and Paul’s Daughter, all have electrical issues due to flooded basements and do not yet have power. The two parks have partial power or are using generators. The entire neighborhood is suffering from the same situation. Many have to redo the electrical wiring before they can get power restored.
Coney Island Boardwalk: Ruby’s Bar and Lola Star Boutique. October 30, 2012. Photo © Jim McDonnell
A beloved icon is gone though. “So sad, it looks like Mama Burger is missing,” said Tina Georgoulakos, owner of Paul’s Daughter, in an email to ATZ. “She must have blown away, We don’t know where she is. After all these years!!” Papa Burger, the other half of the A & W root beer duo, withstood Sandy and anchors the other end of the building. “One of the gates blew open during the storm so the store is filled with sand but its way better than what happened on Surf,” Tina added. November 1st: GOOD NEWS Update from Paul’s Daughter: “Just wanted to let you know that we found Mama Burger!! I posted about it on FB but wanted to let you know as well. She was on the roof, Burger-less and Beer-less but ok. We tried to find the Burger on 15th street (where someone posted a picture of it) but we couldn’t find it. At least we have her. Now we just have to get all of the sand out of the store.”
Coney Island Boardwalk: Mama Burger Blown Off Roof of Paul’s Daughter. October 30, 2012. Photo © Jim McDonnell
Deno’s Wonder Wheel, built in 1920, has withstood many a storm including this historic hurricane. On Monday morning, co-owner Steve Vourderis put extra cables on the Wheel to further secure the landmark from Hurricane Sandy’s high winds.
Coney Island Boardwalk: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park. October 30, 2012. Photo © Jim McDonnell
Luna Park, which took down its Halloween mazes and prepped for Sandy on Sunday, thankfully appeared to have no visible damage to the rides. A steel fence at the new Scream Zone annex was bent, but the 85-year-old Cyclone roller coaster withstood the storm. However, waterlogged equipment and cleanup is a concern for all of the parks, arcades and other businesses in Coney Island’s amusement area.
Coney Island Boardwalk: Scream Zone Fence. October 30, 2012. Photo © Jim McDonnell
Related posts on ATZ…
November 24, 2012: Coney Island Post-Sandy: A Few Stores Reopen, Most Delayed by Damage
November 21, 2012: Coney Island Post-Sandy: Flooded Spook-A-Rama to Get New Stunts
November 20, 2012: Coney Island Post-Sandy: Mini-Golf or Roller Rink to Replace Denny’s?
November 9, 2012: Update on Coney Island’s Amusement Area After Sandy
Amusing the Zillion 
omg! nooooo! not coney island
Mama burger must be floating in the Atlantic along with many ‘ a vanished
Coney Island treasure. Farewell.
I’ve got a bunch more photos up here:
http://controlgeek.net/2012/10/30/coney-island-sandy-flooding-aftermath-photosf
Also, my web host may lose power at any time, so here’s a backup link for the raw photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/108815606285217138719/20121030ConeyIslandSandyFlood
Keep up the great work!
John
Not sure why but I got an extra f at the end of the first link, the correct link is: http://controlgeek.net/2012/10/30/coney-island-sandy-flooding-aftermath-photos
So sad to see the damage after so much good work was done this last year. The Coney folks are a resilient bunch and will no doubt weather this storm and rebuild and repair in time for next season!
Devastatingly sad. I’m sorry to see this album. How did Totonno’s fare? I heard on the radio that flooding had reached as far as Neptune Avenue.
Devastatingly sad to see this album. Do you know how Totonno’s fared? I heard on the radio that the flooding had reached Neptune Avenue.
Have not heard specifically about Totonno’s, but Mermaid Ave was flooded along with Surf. i am still among the powerless and internet access is limited to when i can find a place to plug in my computer, so commenting/blogging will be intermittent
Thanks, Tricia. I actually just called Lawrence Ciminieri (but got his mom, Cookie). First things first: she says she and her family are fine. They live on Staten Island (talk about living and working in the hardest-hit areas) but she at least is staying with her brother, who has power. She says the pizzeria was flooded (no surprise) but that there’s no structural damage that will keep it from reopening after a good cleaning-up.
Thanks for info, Adam. Yes there is a big clean up job ahead for Coney!
Thank you for the update on Totonno’s. Do you know if they will be open this year?
Did Tom’s survive? Will they re-open again this year?
Yes, in fact Tom’s is opening for breakfast tomorrow at 8am!
As I posted, the Boardwalk businesses were spared the flood devastation of Surf Ave and the rest of Coney Island. the water came from the bay and the creek
I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear about Tom’s being safe. I didn’t love it the second time I was there, but I felt sorry to think they spent so much time, effort, energy and money only to be wiped out. Thank goodness. I’m only sorry the Aquarium didn’t fare as well.
Last Pic I saw of Mama’s Burger after mine on Tuesday am was later – down the st by a dumpster – Mindy took that shot around 3 or 4 pm Tuesday afternoon – maybe its still by dumpster ………
Does anyone know the status of the Luna Park buildings? I’m still trying to track my sister down. I am on the west coast. Any info is appreciated. thanks!
I have a friend in Luna Park Houses who did not have power previously but not sure of current status. Please direct any specific questions to Councilman Domenic Recchia at sandyreliefrecchia@gmail.com. They will be able to check on your sister
Thanks Tricia. I’ll do that. I appreciate your help!
How about W.33rd Street, O’Dwyer Gardens? is the bldg flooded? how about power, when can this area expect it to return?
Hi, I’m sorry but do not have info about specific apt buildings. Your best bet is to contact Councilman Domenic Recchia’s office which is coordinating relief efforts for the neighborhood via sandyreliefrecchia@gmail.com. His staff will be able to help you
thank you. I did email him and hope he responds.
Me and some friends are coming out to volunteer cleanup and help out where we can! Thanks for this report!
[…] auch auf dem Strand, der Surf Avenue und dem Vergnügungspark ausgelassen hat, wie diese Bilder und dieser Beitrag zeigen. Seit dem 29. und 30. Oktober 2012 ist viel renoviert worden, unter anderem der Strand. Mit […]