NORWALK, Conn. The Post Road Diner is usually open 24 hours a day, but Tropical Storm Irene forced it to close temporarily. The local landmark was one of the first businesses in Norwalk to reopen its doors after the storm.
Then Irene arrived the waitress, that is. Irene Daris and her mother Rita, a manager at the diner, decided at 10 a.m. to get the restaurant up and running. By noon, the lights were on and the grill was fired up. Hungry people without power were close behind.
"I worked here last night until 10, and then the lightning started," Irene said. "I woke up this morning, and it wasn't that bad. I mean, there was a tree in my front yard, but I was ready to go."
By 1:30 p.m., the full staff had arrived to a packed house. It was about the usual size for a Sunday crowd at the diner, but there was nothing usual about the circumstances.
"It was hectic at first because we had to call everyone in. Thank God, it's working out, though," Rita said. "It's nice that everyone came in. They did well with the rush."
How are you getting by without power?
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