Sydney Storm: Seafront restaurant says deluge was ‘worst thing to happen’ and plans crowdfunding appeal

A POPULAR beachfront cafe will launch a crowdfunding appeal to get it open again, with the owner saying he’s not sure what insurance will cover after 3m waves smashed it last weekend.

The Bower cafe in Manly which was hit by the storms.

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THE owners of a cafe which was wrecked after 3m high waves plunged through the window during last week’s storm are launching a crowd-funding campaign to get it reopened.

Owners of The Bower Restaurant on Marina Pde in Manly said they’ve lost everything and they’re still unsure what insurance will cover out of the thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Owner Hartmut Schacker with Kia the dog at The Bower restaurant Manly. Picture: Braden Fastier

Hardy Schacker, who only bought the venue in September after managing it for six years, said the water was up to his waist in places.

“It’s the worst thing that would ever happen,” he said. “It’s a threatening situation for us. All the fridges were fired, we lost our cool room – there was $1500 of fish in there for the weekend, dairy products, vegetables, everything went.

A cyclist with surfboard passes The Bower restaurant Manly in happier times. Picture: Braden Fastier

“It just came through the windows. We hope to get some stuff back on insurance, we are unsure.

“All the residents up the road helped to save what we could. We came down, but it was all gone.”

It could be September before they’re ready to start serving again, and they’ve had to let six casual staff go.

The Bower cafe in Manly which was hit by the storms.

However, they want coffee lovers to know they’re still serving take away coffee from the cafe until renovation work begins.

Mr Schacker said he had luckily unplugged the pricey coffee machine and it escaped unharmed. He gave the cafe a makeover just last year, with new modern touches including sleek lighting.

The restaurant is on the Manly to Shelly cliff walk which remains partially closed.

Aftermath of the severe storm on Northern Beaches. Fairy Bower Pool where the iconic sculpture is damaged and the toilet blocks are gone.

As reported in the Manly Daily, huge waves last Sunday night washed away the toilet block, tore apart the concrete path and left the iconic sculpture at Fairy Bower rock pool broken.

Homes along the pathway were also flooded, and huge trees nearby fell.