See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Colin Mixson
Brooklyn Daily
It’s fiesta time for a survivor of Hurricane Sandy!
Destroyed by the Storm of Century a week before its originally scheduled debut, Jumpin’ Bean, Emmons Avenue’s first Mexican restaurant, finally celebrated its long-time-coming soft opening on May 15.
“The place was all ready to go and then we got hit with 11 feet of flood water,” explained Phyllis Colucci, the restaurant’s general manager. “It was a big, big mess. We were just about ready and then we got slammed. We lost everything.”
After the storm’s terrifying floods, the eatery had to replace all the appliances, furniture, and decorations.
“I’m sure over $100,000 has been spent just to redo the restaurant after Sandy,” Colucci said. “The whole kitchen was wiped out, everything was floating around and nothing could be reused. Every little bit of rust had to be replaced, you know how the Board of Health is.”
But all that woe is now a thing of the past. Colluci and owner San Miguel have been enjoying a modest, but steady stream of repeat customers, which they expect to balloon into a nightly fiesta once they celebrate their grand opening on Friday.
“A lot of people don’t know we’re open, but that’s by design,” said Colluci. “We wanted to get all the kinks out before we start advertising, but the word’s already spreading. We’ve had a lot of repeat customers, people we’ve seen two or three times.”
Nicola Bennett enjoyed her first meal at Jumpin’ Bean on Monday, a chicken quesadilla with a side of sangria. She liked it so much, she’s already planning her next trip back.
“I think it’s great,” said Bennett on Tuesday. “It’s so close. And you don’t really get any Mexican food in that area, not at all. I’m actually thinking of going back there later today.”
The restaurant should look extra dapper during its grand opening celebration Friday, which is certain to include more than a few obligatory grand-opening drink specials. And whether or not it’s served on the cheap, Jumpin’ Bean’s sangria is always served fresh and never watered down.
“I’ve tried a lot of sangria,” said Bennett, “and in this you could actually taste the alcohol.”
Jumpin’ Bean [3081 Emmons Ave. between Brown and Batchelder streets in Sheepshead Bay, (718) 648–2260]
Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.