Merrick Brothers Overcome Hurricane Sandy

On a recent day, Francesco Giambanco, 25, sat in his waterfront restaurant, AcQua, and recalled the hard days after Hurricane Sandy. 

"Last year none of this was here," he said of the Italian eatery on Bayberry Avenue. "The restaurant was completely destroyed." 

Giambanco and his brother, Fabio, not only lost their restaurant, but their South Merrick home. 

However, the two have rebuilt both on their own in less than a year. 

"It's surreal," Francesco Giambanco said. "I am still affected by Sandy everyday."
 
"It was a real obstacle course," 22-year-old Fabio Giambanco said. 

The brothers, who were raised in Merrick and graduated from Kennedy High School, grew up watching their father, Sal, own and operate restaurants. 

"I followed in my father's footsteps," Francesco Giambanco said. "I have been in the restaurant business all my life. It was the only time I could hang out with my father." 

It was a dream come true when the brothers opened AcQua in June 2012. 

"Everyone loved the restaurant," Francesco Gaimbanco said. "It was the go to place." 

Four months later, they heard that a major storm was coming.

"The night that Sandy hit I stayed in the restaurant, but after a couple of hours I knew I had to leave," Francesco Giambanco said.

He walked home, with water up to his shoulders, and was picked up halfway by his father. 

In a matter of hours the Giambancos lost their business, their home and two cars. 

Francesco Giambanco went back to the restaurant in the wee hours of the morning, the day after Sandy hit. 

"It was devastation," he said. "Water was waist high and a boat was in the restaurant. 

"You did not know where to start," Fabio Giambanco said. 

Along with extensive damage, the two found that valuable items were stolen out of the restaurant. 

With no time to waste, the brothers got to work. 

Francesco Giambanco, who knows how to do construction, started rebuilding his house and business with the help of family and friends.

"The Merrick community made us open up," he said. "They encouraged us." 

The brothers said that they have not received any money from their insurance company or government grants.

"If we waited on that, we would never get anything done," Francesco Giambanco said. 

The restaurant reopened on the Fourth of July this year. 

The brothers said that even though they are back on their feet, things are still difficult.

"I am nervous," Francesco Giambanco said. "My life will never be the same because I am living on the wire everyday. Everything that I had was invested in this restaurant and I more in debt now more than ever." 

However, the two are proud of their accomplishment. 

"We got knocked down, but we got back up," Fabio Giambanco said. "If that did not break me, nothing will." 

Francesco Giambanco agreed.

"I learned that we have a lot of friends and family that are in our corner," he said. "I learned that nothing is impossible."