Red Hook Brooklyn’s restaurants and bars are no strangers to innovation.

When Hurricane Sandy struck the neighborhood on October 29th, local businesses and restaurants got together to form Restore Red Hook as a collective effort to raise funds.

A month later, rebuilding is in process, and things are looking up as businesses get creative in raising funds.

Baked has created a ReStore Red Hook Red Velvet Cupcake, and a percentage of proceeds are being donated to ReStore Red Hook.

As St. John Frizell, owner of Fort Defiance, wrote on his website, of the inability to process claims with his insurance company or to receive loans. “So we’re taking it to you, our friends: please help us rebuild!”

Fort Defiance is selling “Buy Now Drink Later” junk bonds, gift certificates at twice their value to raise money to rebuild.

“You give us $20, we send you $10 in gift certificates. You send us $100, we send you $50 in gift certificates. It’s a terrible deal for you,” their sales pitch goes, “but we really need the money!”

“The Good Fork humbly opened its doors nearly seven years ago, serving eclectic comfort food in a cozy dining room hand built by my husband and partner, Ben Schneider.  Since then, we’ve created many great memories for our loyal patrons, neighbors, friends and family ,” Sohui Kim wrote on their GoFundMe.com page. The devastation to their restaurant was immense, but  she writes “Ben and I, along with the rest of the Good Fork staff, past and present, are committed to rebuilding and reopening. We reach out to you for your help in this endeavor. ”

Sunny’s reports on their site that they were badly damaged and have been unable to reopen. They have been pumping, cleaning and trying to restore order since the day after the storm. “While we have had a ton of volunteers (thank you all) and have made much progress with the clean out, Sunny’s is still in need of major fixes. We have strted a Kickstarter campaign to help raise the money needed to get back up and running. We will be back better than ever.”

What We Learned…Tapping into resources will work for some, but the things that have made you successful — your innovation, your customers, and your community — these ultimately will be where you’ll profit in times of need.

Take Aways…Focus on your community, communicate your needs and keep in touch with them to let them know what’s going on and how they can help.

Visit their funding efforts:

Rebuilding The Good Fork

Fort Defiance is selling clever Junk Bonds

Sunny’s is raising funds on Kickstarter

Baked Sends Queries to Restore Red Hook