Storefronts at Eastgate Crossing in Chapel Hill pick up the pieces after devastating flooding

Businesses located at Eastgate Crossing in Chapel Hill are picking up the pieces and beginning a long cleanup process, following Sunday night’s devastating flood. 

Cars left in the parking lot were engulfed, stores are restaurants were nearly destroyed by the water. “We have seen some flooding in the past, but we have never seen anything like this,” said Chad Pickens, the general manager of Great Outdoor Provisions. “This was [water] 5 feet high inside the shop. It literally picked up everything and turned it all over.”

Eastgate Crossing consists of several stores, restaurants, and boutiques. Every establishment is taking a different approach to the cleanup process. “Food safety and sanitation, being in the restaurant business, is our utmost priority,” said Meghann Cleary, Regional Manager at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery. “So immediately we discarded all perishable food to make sure it was outside of the building.”

On Tuesday, several Chapel Hill city and fire officials showed up to assess the damage and cleanup process at the shopping plaza. According to Pickens, many patrons have come by to offer their support and help.

“We have had a lot of volunteer labor from our customers,” Pickens said. “They have been willing to pull out their tools and put on their work clothes.”

Several storeowners and employees working at Eastgate Crossing told WRAL News it’s difficult to estimate how long it will take to get everything cleaned and back up and running.

Related: From waist-deep water due to Chantal flooding to scorching sun in Chapel Hill

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