Enthusiastic Oak Street businesses keep the lights on as Isaac approaches

As the winds of Hurricane Isaac began picking up on Oak Street on Tuesday morning, boards may have covered the shopfront windows, but nothing could cover the owners’ spirits.

“Oak Street is open for businesses,” said Chiba owner Keith Dusko. “The 8300 block, anyway.”

Dusko was busy putting plywood in the windows, but with a generator at the ready, he said he had no intention of closing.

“No reason to close,” Dusko said. “Serve a little sushi, couple of beers.”

A few feet away, Hank Staples said the Maple Leaf was ready for the storm. The storied bar closed only during the worst of Katrina, but never during Gustav, and often found itself serving police officers and National Guardsmen right next to area residents.

“Tonight, we’ll be open till it gets silly,” Staples said.

On Wednesday, Staples plans to reopen as soon as its possible, cooking burgers and “hurricane spaghetti” with meat sauce instead of meatballs. If the regular Wednesday night act is out of town, he’ll find someone else to take the stage, he pledged.

Just a few blocks farther down, Sean and Chamain O’Mahony were keeping the ovens lit at Breads on Oak. The figured the brick building was probably safer than their house to ride out the storm, and since they were there anyway, they might as well bake.

“We decided to stay in the baker, and we can just bake until we lose electricity,” Chamain said as she worked on a batch of muffins.

Although the couple cooks every week for delivery to a long list of Uptown restaurants, they only open their storefront on Fridays and Saturdays. This Thursday, however, when the storm passes, they’ll have fresh baked goods ready.

“We’ll be here with bread and muffins for breakfast,” Chamain said.

“If they want anything, they can just knock on the door,” Sean said.