THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 12, 1996 TAG: 9611120213
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: SURF CITY LENGTH: 55 lines
Many business owners on hurricane-battered Topsail Island face the same question. Is it worth trying to repair what Hurricane Fran left in its wake?
``It's pretty depressing around here,'' said Topsail Beach Town Council member Kevin Digan. Piles of debris still litter the roadway and construction crews clog the roads.
The businesses Fran didn't physically remove on this barrier island Sept. 5 were left in a tenuous existence.
The other day Jerry Guine wondered what he and his wife were going to do about their mangled Ocean Front Inn.
``We just don't know if it's worth the cost to repair it,'' said Guine.
Hurricane Fran dealt the motel between $500,000 and $1 million worth of water and roof damage. Repairs have made the opening of some rooms possible.
``On the other hand,'' Guine told The Morning Star of Wilmington, ``we're providing a service. There's so few hotels open, people need a place to stay.''
The Guines scheduled the demolition of their motel for Saturday, but sought an extension as they wavered on their decision.
The Topsail Marina, built in the early 1950s, withstood Hurricane Hazel in 1954, but took a beating during Fran. Owner Mike Miller has decided to sell the soundside marina to a developer who plans to build houses, he said.
``It's worth more as raw land than it is as a marina,'' said the Hampstead resident, who could have repaired the marina building and the dock but said it just wasn't worth it.
``The storm made it a good time to get out.''
Staring out at the water as his two gray cats play-wrestled on the pavement, the marina's neighbor, Charles Bush, said he didn't know what he'd do with the marina gone.
``It's going to cut down on the boat traffic, that's for sure,'' said the owner of Bush Repair, a boat repair and part store. ``To tell you the truth, I'd love to sell and get out, too, but I can't. When you're in business for yourself, you can't retire until two days before they bury you.''
Topsail Beach Mayor Kip Oppegaard said he'll stay, too, but he probably won't rebuild his Topsail Sound Pier. ``Financially, I just don't know if I can do it,'' he said. Repairing the heavy storm damage would cost about $400,000, he said.
He may have to convert his tackle shop into another business. ``There's not much call for a tackle shop without a pier,'' he said.
Oppegaard hopes to have his restaurant, Beauchaines, open by spring. ``I've been here a long time, you know,'' he said. ``We'll come back with something.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS color photo
Jerry Guine and his wife had decided to have their Ocean Front Inn
demolished, but have wavered somewhat on that move. by CNB