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Back in business after 9/11

By Marlene Naanes, mnaanes@am-ny.com
amNewYork, September 8, 2008, pg. 3.

The Twin Towers were shimmering skyline marvels that attracted thousands of tourists a day to lower Manhattan, but for commuters and neighborhood residents, it was the vast mall beneath the World Trade Center that was the big draw -- feeding, clothing and taking care of them daily for decades.

The 60 or so shops were among the most profitable per square foot in the country, but their significance ran deeper than that.

"It was our local shopping center," said Catherine McVay Hughes, vice-chairwoman of Community Board 1. "The World Trade Center was our town square. "

amNewYork caught up with three former tenants; they've remained resilient despite great struggle.

One shop owner, Minas Polychronakis, 67, says he would have retired had it not been for the attacks.

"I'm still here but still struggle," said Polychronakis, a Greek immigrant who lost his shop of 25 years, Minas Shoe Repair, and moved to 67 Wall St. "I felt I have an obligation to support my area."

Minas Shoe Repair

Polychronakis' first sign that a plane hit was a flicker of lights, but soon, people were running by his door. He locked up, and still holds those keys, his ID and a dusty check recovered from the rubble.

The years since have not been easy for a man who built his business on speaking a little bit of English, having a little bit of money and displaying "a lot of passion for work."

Polychronakis estimates he lost $400,000 in the three years it took him to establish the new store. He got a small grant to stay in the area, but the new shop brings in much less business. He looks at other shops who left and wonders if he should have.

"For me they are smart -- they pick up the insurance and they get out of here," he said. "I decide to stay here."

Hale and Hearty Soups

Before 9/11, the kiosk near the E train entrance was one of the most profitable branches of the soup and sandwich chain's eight New York area outposts.

"The lines would get extremely long," said Michael Savini, director of operations. "On any given day we would serve 700, 800 guests."

The Manhattan business took a substantial financial hit, but has recovered and now has two shops in lower Manhattan.

Savini likes to keep a photo of the World Trade Center kiosk posted in the company's offices. "I put it up on my wall just to always remind me of what could happen," he said.

Flowers of the World

When the high-end flower store reopened on Maiden Lane, the owners incorporated a tribute to the shop's old home.

One end of a work table, where flower arrangements are made, is carved out with steel cables jutting out of jagged concrete.

"It's steel and concrete -- pretty much all that was left," said co-owner Peter Grontas. "It's a subtle reminder to us."

Flowers of the World is still recovering, repaying loans and bracing for an uncertain future in today's difficult economy.

"We may have lost our business, but we are very fortunate to be here and rebuild," Grontas said.

"There are many people who are a lot less fortunate than us so we think about that on a regular basis, but especially on 9/11," he added.

Copyright 2008 amNY.com