Fort Lauderdale Open For Business As Water Returns

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — While a boil water notice remains in effect for Fort Lauderdale and nearby communities through at least Sunday morning, the tourist-driven economy is already back in business.

Arianne Glassman of the Fort Lauderdale Beach Restaurant Group, which operates Spazio, Cafe Ibiza, Tsukuro, Blondies, Rock Bar and The Sweet Spot along the city's famed ocean strip told Patch that all of the businesses will be open all weekend long. See also 220,000 In Fort Lauderdale Urged To Boil Water Through Sunday

"The restaurants were all open and operational during the citywide occurrence, boiling the ice from the ice machines to cool for water to cook with, and utilizing plastic utensils, plates and cups for service," she said on Friday.

Not far away along the strip, the Bahia Mar Hotel was also operational and taking care of guests Friday following a difficult day.

Nearly a quarter of a million people lost water service Thursday when a 42-inch underground water pipe was ruptured by a subcontractor of Florida Power & Light.

The Bahia Mar, which is owned by Hilton, recently completed a $15 million property-wide renovation, including a new rooftop pool venue called High Tide Lounge where guests have been able to use the pool when they visit the lounge at no extra charge.

Glassman said some of her guests had to be moved when the water pressure failed in her establishments but it was back on pretty quickly. That allowed restrooms to function even if the water was not potable.

"Still cautious, we brought in ice and only served bottled water and soft drinks, although most guests were happy with beer and wine," she said.

Ilona Wolpin, who also works with multiple restaurants and bars in Fort Lauderdale, said the restaurants she works with were also boiling water.

"Ice is being delivered from out of area," Wolpin told Patch, adding that the businesses are also using canned and bottled beverages.

Of the restaurants she works with, The Beach Place Hooters opened at noon Friday while Lulu's Bait Shack opened at 11 a.m. and the Royal Pig Pub opened at 11:30 a.m.

Casa Sensei, a Pan-Asian, Latin-Fusion restaurant on the Las Olas waterfront, was also open all day Thursday and planned to be open all weekend.

"Casa Sensei searched high and low throughout Fort Lauderdale and had bottled water and bagged ice on hand for guests," according to restaurant owner Victor Diaz.

Glassman said she was grateful that city officials moved as quickly as they did and communicated to businesses during the water crisis.

Florida businesses and government agencies are accustomed to dealing with hurricanes and the water disruption took on the feel of one, at least for a time.

"A good practice run for all, which we certainly don't look forward to repeating," Glassman added. "We all but cleared out a shelf at the Dollar Store of hand sanitizer for staff and guests to 'wash' their hands."

Patch will add your business to this story if you drop us an email and tell us the name of your business, where it's located and what steps you've taken to make the public feel safe while the boil water notice remains in effect.