STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — There are few places in the world a person can go where everybody knows their name.
The Island Coffee Shop in Castleton Corners was one of those rare gems. Now, the community is mourning its cherished staple, the day after a fire ripped through the establishment at 407 Manor Road. “Of course it hurt me, but I am a strong man, I am not going to give up,” said George Bakratsas, the owner of Island Coffee Shop.
“I’m going to build up for my people. I love my people. I have people who have worked here for 30-36 years.
So I care about them.” Bakratsas said the business had been running for nearly three decades. The owner speculated the fire could have began in the hood, which has an exhaust to bring the smoke out of the kitchen while the grill is in use.
According to the restaurant employees, the fire went to the roof and the amount of heat that was inside the place melted things on far walls. Although the fire was “pretty bad,” firefighters were able to quickly contain it. Workers say the business sustained water damage, broken appliances and a melted air-conditioning system.
Bakratsas says that although his beloved restaurant was severely damaged and he cannot even begin to estimate the daunting cost of repair, he is determined to get his business up and running again one day — hopefully in the near future. “The fire inspector is going to come and let me know,” Bakratsas said. “I can’t lead people to think that we are going to open.
