Christie Visits Long Branch's Rebuilt Casa Comida

By Christopher Sheldon

Businesses and homes along Long Branch's Branchport Creek did not fare well after Hurricane Sandy.

Casa Comida, a Mexican restaurant at 336 Branchport Ave., was one of those businesses as it was filled with 3 feet of water caused by the flood waters from the creek.

Gov. Chris Christie visited the restaurant on Wednesday afternoon to talk with owner Kristen Catlett about how she was able to rebuild her restaurant.

Catlett said her restaurant was closed for six weeks after the hurricane hit and said she had to max out her credit cards, take money out of her life insurance and enlist the help of friends and families to get it up an running.

"We worked from 6 a.m. through the night every day to get it opened," Catlett said.

Catlett said she initially applied to through the Small Business Association to get a loan to restore her restaurant but was unsuccessful.

"The SBA was ridiculous," she said. "We got nowhere with them."

However, she was able to apply for and receive a grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's (EDA) Stronger NJ Grant Program. The program aims to help small businesses and non-profit organizations with grants of up to $50,000. So far, 200 applications have been submitted and 22 have been approved, including Casa Comida.

Christie did not address the media during his visit to the restaurant but touted the program earlier in the day during a stop at Ortley Beach.

"The immediate goal is getting assistance to impacted businesses as quickly as possible to ensure they have a capital need to resume or maintain their operations," Christie said in an article on Toms River Patch.

To be eligible for the grant program, a business must have sustained a minimum of $5,000 in physical damage from Sandy, according to the governor’s office.

Business owners interested in applying for grant money can call 1-855-SANDY-BZ for assistance, or visit the NJEDA online.

Catlett said she is thankful to the EDA for helping her so quickly and is thankful for the financial assistance that she will help continue to run her restaurant. 

"We're looking forward to a good summer and we're off to a nice start," she said.