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American Morning

Interview With Rockaways Restaurateur

Aired November 14, 2001 - 09:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILLY BUSH, GUEST ANCHOR: Sweet Rockaway, that's what I want to talk about -- a place I have been and a place that has definitely seen brighter days. In 1984, Matt Dillon played the Flamingo Kid, challenging an already loose set of morals at a Rockaway beach club. A little south of the crash site, Woody Allen shot "Radio Days." The Ramones launched punk music from this little spot on the water in the '70's. But for years to come, it will probably be known as the site of a most devastating tragedy.

How do people from that community feel now?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It just hit too close this time. Whether or not it was a terrorist or not, it was just too much for us to deal with right now, I think.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we feel more vulnerable than in the past.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone is devastated. I think everyone is very nervous. We all are all wondering how much more grief we have to endure. I think I see my sons -- we're almost over that panic feeling.

I'm a wreck every time a plane goes by.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Steve Good has lived his whole life here in Rockaways, and he owns two restaurants, one of which has seen more through its windows than it ever wanted.

How true is that, Steve?

STEVE GOOD, RESTAURANT OWNER: It's very true. We saw the jets hit the World Trade Center, and now, two days ago, this, right outside the front window. Everybody was just in there in a state of panic and shock. Everybody just ran out. It was crazy.

BUSH: To give you an idea of those two restaurants, one looks out on the ocean, looking out towards the Atlantic, and the other one is at the other end of a very busy 116th Street, and that is right on Jamaica Bay. Part of your logo for the Sunset Diner which sits on Jamaica Bay is the Twin Towers. The Twin Towers are there with the sun setting behind it; isn't that a little bit ironic?

GOOD: Yes. We will never take that off our logo. I grew up my whole life looking at the Trade Center. This is just a devastating thing for New York, a devastating thing for Rockaway. But everybody is pulling through. Everybody was running up here. Instead of running the opposite way, everybody was running up here to help, anything they could do. I was talking over the few two days; they are just pulling noses and knocking down doors. It's been phenomenal.

BUSH: Let me ask, Steve, the diner is up there in American history and tradition with the barber shop as meeting places for people. And what are people talking about when they come in? What do they talk about with you?

GOOD: Everybody talks about where they were, what they were doing, who they knew there. And everybody is talking now about how amazing it is that only six people were killed and not whole blocks were wiped out. We're really, really fortunate here in Rockaway that blocks weren't wiped out.

BUSH: To given a idea of how tight the community is, not only did you lost 65 people in the World Trade Center, but also, with these six people, most everybody knows those people. Isn't that the case?

GOOD: Everybody in Rockaway is very tight knit. Everybody that was lost was as customer of mine and will sorely be missed. And everybody in the Trade Center -- everybody comes in every day, talking about somebody else who is missing or another memorial service. It's very tight-knit community. Everybody's together. The buzz around the diner, that's all everybody talks about: where they were, who they where with, how they knew the people that are missing. It's really wonderful to see everybody together under bad circumstances.

BUSH: I'm going to come out there later on for lunch. I have got some things to do out there. I heard Governor Pataki had a turkey club yesterday.

GOOD: Yes, a turkey club. He came in. It was great. Nice to see the governor. You know, again, unfortunate circumstances, but it's good to see the support of some of the local people in the area and about our local politicians. Hopefully, the governor will visit more often, on good terms.

BUSH: Steve, I'll see you later on. Thanks very much.

GOOD: Thanks, Billy.

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