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More Huntsville restaurants, stores find ways to open as power slowly returns
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Things aren't anywhere near "normal" in Madison County, but there were signs this afternoon that Huntsville business is moving in that direction in the wake of last week's tornadoes.
The parking lot at Cheddar's restaurant on University Drive looked just like it does after church on any Sunday. It was packed. The only visible difference was the big generator on a trailer parked behind the building.
"We knew today was going to be important," said Steve Sosko, looking at the tables full of families, many clearly in "church clothes."
He's district manager for Cheddar's and came down from Norfolk, Va., to support the team in Huntsville and their families. The restaurant reopened Friday and, aside from the curfew affecting their hours, it's been "everyday business," Sosko said.
Everyday, but far from ordinary. He knows that some customers are getting their first warm meal in days. They're also coming in for comfort food, camaraderie, to charge up a cell phone and, well, recharge themselves.
"That's the main thing. They're able to get out of the heat (and) away from the stress" for a few minutes, Sosko said. "It feels good, what we're doing."
Cheddar's is also preparing dinners and breakfasts for their employees to take home, he said.
It wasn't hard to find an open McDonald's or Arby's and, while gas stations seemed to stay busy, there weren't the long lines and waits of a day or two ago.
The power was even coming back on in pockets of the city, including a stretch west on University Drive from Oster Drive to Putnam Drive.
"We're back in business," said Nick Lyles, general manager of Dreamland Bar-B-Que on University Drive. He said the electricity apparently came back around 1 a.m. Managers scrambled to bring in employees and prepare a limited menu of to-go orders Sunday.
"If you have power, you should be open," he said.
The smoke was rolling and employees and patrons alike seemed happy to be there Sunday. "I'm sure they were wanting to get out of the house," Lyles said.
Beginning Monday, he expects Dreamland to go back to its regular menu and operation, except for the hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closing early to comply with the curfew.
Dillard's department stores at both Parkway Place and Madison Square malls have generators running, have been open limited hours for days and plan to be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this week - unless the curfew is lifted and they can stay open later.
A spokesperson for the malls emphasized that Dillard's is the only store operating, that the malls are still without power and remain closed.
On Sunday, some customers in the Dillard's at Parkway Place were finding places to charge their phones as they looked through the racks of clothes.
"I hoped to have a haircut," said a smiling Dion Somera of Madison. But she found that wasn't one of the services that has been restored. Yet.