Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published September , 2008 No Timetable For Reopening Middendorf's Closed By Flooding The winds of Hurricane Ike did minimal direct damage to the New Orleans area. But they were strong and persistent enough to push a tremendous amount of water into Lake Pontchartrain. And then through the marshes on its western edges, flooding the low-lying communities there. Manchac, for example. That's the home of Middendorf's, the venerable, popular, and excellent fried catfish and seafood establishment, right on Pass Manchac. The water rose high enough to put as much as four feet into both of Middendorf's two buildings, as well as into the home of Horst and Karen Pfeifer. They bought Middendorf's about a year ago, after deciding not to reopen their French Market restaurant, Bella Luna. The water has still not gone down enough for them to assess the damage, let alone figure out what to do about it. I can't imagine that it won't reopen, but it may be some time before it does so. This wouldn't be the first time this happened to Middendorf's, but it hasn't lately. They survived both Katrina and Rita reasonably well. But the wind was blowing in the wrong direction for them this time. © 2008 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com