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Underground Explosion: Businesses Take Beating

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Jul 25, 2007 5:56 pm US/Eastern

Underground Explosion: Businesses Take Beating

Owners, Workers Allowed Back In, But See Empty Shops

by Lou Young
NEW YORK (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: Governor Spitzer and Mayor Bloomberg are seeking federal aid after a steam pipe exploded near Grand Central.
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Click to enlarge 2 of 2: CBS

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It's been a week since chaos erupted on Manhattan's East Side.

A steam pipe explosion sparked contamination fears, massive gridlock, and concern about New York's aging underground systems. Even now, many headaches remain and there have been few definitive answers about what actually caused the rupture.

Like a block of ice in the summer sun, the Midtown "frozen zone" is slowly melting away. It was 10 full blocks a week ago, but is now relegated to the area around the explosion site at 41st Street and Lexington Avenue.

The impact of the explosion on New Yorkers is diminishing, but many can still feel it.

One week after and although only three buildings remain closed, the immediate area in Midtown around the explosion site resembles an active construction site. Those closest to the scene allowed back in Wednesday are looking back over a tough business week.

"It was panicky for about two hours and since then it's been tough trying to get back in and get our stuff and get back to business," said Ben Pastro, who works in the area.

Added Rebecca Pandofelly: "It's getting a little better. Looks like a war zone doesn't it? It's kind of scary looking, but little by little I suppose."

Businesses in the affected areas are being offered emergency loans, $10,000. The empty tables at Bloom's Cafe a week later tells many that won't quite cover it.

"We were closed for five days. We opened up yesterday, hardly any business because none of the streets were open. Today they opened up a little bit here, but very few people coming in," manager Dennis Botsaris said.

As for the cause, the passage of a week hasn't brought many answers.

"This was obviously a steam rupture," Con Ed's Michael Clendenin said. "Whether it was caused by a defect in our equipment or some outside force, we have to figure out exactly what it was. We will. Whatever the cause was we'll find it."

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