GENEVA, Ohio (WOIO) – Three weeks after devastating storms tore through northeast Ohio, a Geneva restaurant remains closed with extensive damage that could keep it shuttered for up to a year.
Honeybees Restaurant, a Geneva staple for 20 years, was severely damaged when the March 31 storm blew the roof off the building. The damage forced every business in the building to close and displaced people living in upstairs apartments.
Owner Irene Hrisko said the destruction was immediate and severe.
“When I came here, my hood is on the side of the building. My roof is on the other side of the building,” Hrisko said.
Staff left without work
The closure has left 14 of Hrisko’s employees out of work with no clear timeline for when they can return.
Miranda DeGenaro, a cook who has worked at Honeybees for a year, said losing the restaurant feels like losing family.
“This is my second home. This is my second family. These are sisters to me. They’re everything,” DeGenaro said.
Hrisko said crews must gut the building from top to bottom and bring the entire structure up to code before anyone can return. The timeline for repairs is six months to a year.
While insurance is covering the damage, the wait is difficult for staff members who depend on their paychecks.
“I don’t want to go anywhere else. But unfortunately, eventually, we may have to think about that — because I have children,” DeGenaro said.
Hrisko said she is exploring opening in a temporary location but is not sure when or if that will happen. In the meantime, she is asking the community to help her employees.
“We’re hoping that people will help my employees so at least they can pay their bills for now,” Hrisko said.
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