I remember during the blackout (was that summer 2002? 2003?) all of the local businesses really showed their colors. Many were open in candle-light late into the evenings. Some restaurants put tables out on the streets. The corner store on 37th Ave and 79th street granted me credit because I ran out of cash and no ATM's were working. No one price gouged... not even the stores selling those candles in tall glass with pictures of saints on them... that people were standing in line to buy.
And Baskin Robbins on 37th Ave? As soon as the electricity went out, and everyone poured into the street on that hot hot afternoon, a lot of people headed to Baskin Robbins. But they decided not to open their freezers with the electricity off. They did not close for hours. They did not send their staff home. But they refused to sell ice cream.
Electricity did not come on for 24 hours if I remember correctly. Jackson Heights got power hours and hours and hours after most of the City. And by that time, ALL of the ice cream at Baskin Robbins had melted and had to be thrown away.
I will always remember the businesses that, by 8 or 9 at night, were giving away the stuff in their freezers.
Baskin Robbins? Good riddance.