NYC-WTC_000230632

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

BAILY NEtfS, MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2001

Getting back to worli BUSINESSES

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' fl EHEIiEnilil Jofdai Ouzai (unto) with pvtiw Scott Kalhr fsrtrano I) and Uweri, Sainton UP staff at new office on Broadwaji

Shatteredfirm trying to pick up the pieces ^5^ Sy WBIUM SHIRMAfI and BHAtt KAIES engireets to get copies of plans, backup Ml NS»S SWT wniEM computer information and other materi­ Arehitect Jordan Gruzen, his part­ al on projects in progress, including an ners and his 135 employees used to annex to 1 Police Plaza. have plenty of office space. “We had to reconstitute all our It was downtown, two floors at 90 work” he said.' West St, across from the World Trade Then they had to get equipment. Center — an easy stroll to several of his “Fortunately, my son is a vice presi­ recent projects, including Police dent at Compaq, so we got computers Headquarters at 1 Police Plaza and five right away,” Gruzen said. “W-s're up and buildings in Battery Park City. running. Everybody's working. It took. Now it's gone. _ _ US days, but we did it." Like scores of other enter-’ 'AJb mm firms, Like other big dislocated prises that were in the World Cruzen's business is Trade Center end its shad­ covered by insurance. ows, Gruzen, Samton LLP “Valuable papers insuf- suffered no casualties, but MUlIB ence, business interruption its offices and everything in HlnHM insurance, tangibles insur- them were destroyed.- ik*‘ BapHKw ance, all of it," he said, “So f - “Plans, computers, desks, archives, the safe that was iMHmiwittt,- we've got a big fund to work RESTAURWrS&retail SF^^H|g When he's not racing supposed to be fireproof, all incinerated in the fire and the gas explosion that came from across the street," S around (own checking on _ projects, Gmzen, along with partners, is looking for Desperate timefor city By WmiAM SHERMAN and BRIAN KAIES he said. “I'U get half what I used to.liM Gruzen said, “It's totally ’ enough space in one loca- ______ ” unusable, ftuzen, Sanitofia tion to house his firm. our NEKS SWT wmtra know what 111 do to make moneyt t! The firm has split up, wrecked blMng. "We need at least 20,000 Sal Marciante, 43, is looking for a job . Like others suddenly unemplo^ i operating out of six loca- square feet, and it has to be for the first time in 20 years. otherwise financially battered ■ • tions in Manhattan, and Gruzen. like built out with telephones, desks, every- A bartender at the Tall Ship Bar and wake of the terrorist attack, Momk i many other business owners since Sept thing — tolly equipped,” he said, "But Grill in the Marriott World Trade Center does not hold out much hope fir ■ 11, struggles to keep his firm running with the dot-com failures, there's a lot hotel on West St., Marciante poured on hire or reversal of fortune. t smoothly while dealing with the enor- available — all above Canal SI. We’ll the 4 p.m.-to-ll p.m. shift. Ttie city’s hotel, restauranr an*« mous new challenges of Manhattan’s make a deal soon." So he avoided harm from the immedi- busineases have been severely depre changed business environment. Gruzen also is trying to rebuild his ate devastation on the raoming of Sept. 11 since the World Trade Center atan^ The biggest is finding enough room home life. He Ilves with his wife, Lett, at that destroyed the bar end the hotel, for- workers are being laid off. ■ 'i to keep his company together. The Regatta, in Battery Park City, one merly known as the Vista International, Budnesaea below 14th SL. dosoltia He's found space — on Fourth St., of the buildings his firm designed. . But he didn’t escape unscathed. sines the tenor attaclo, hove bccoHI l-«li St, I Sth St., 37th St, 57tfi St. and Along with, thousands of other down- "I was making 11.000 a week. Now 1 got hculariy hand. That Is, if they survioBfii Broadway. Some space was borrowed town residents, the Gruzens were forced to start looking for work like a teenager," "I had three restaurants. No^ t from a friend; the rest was sublet on an to leave their home Sept. 11. They were said Marciante, who Is married and the one,“ said Tony May, who mv emergency basis. able to letum oidy late last week. father of a 3-year-old daughter, Christina. Italian restaurants, Gemelli eaA l But there are other problems. "We had no clothing, nothing,' he "My wife’s working, the union is giving Break, nt 4 World Trade Ccntcc ; first, employees had to contact clients said. “But compared to others, 1 feel us $100 a week, I’ll get $400 a week His remaining holding ia and the firm's mechanical and structural very, very fortunate." unemployment, so I’ll get by for a while," Dotr.enlco, one of .toe city's finesRi *5 I

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NYC-WTC_000230632