"We are back and better than ever," said Rosemarie Saladino, owner of the Marina Cafe.
The Marina Cafe has gone through a lot of changes since Hurricane Sandy, but Saladino says one thing has stayed the same.
"The regular customers that have been coming here for years, it's like a family," she said.
The Great Kills restaurant was devastated by Sandy in 2012, left barely recognizable.
"It was gone. It was wiped out. Totally destroyed. It's amazing that it's back," said customer Richard Larosa.
He and his wife have been coming to the restaurant since it first opened more than 30 years ago. Larosa, says after it was destroyed, he and many other long-time customers, encouraged the Saladino’s to re-open.
"It would have been a win for Sandy and to the disaster not to rebuild this restaurant," he added.
"It motivated us to keep going and push us forward," said Saladino.
The restaurant reopened in 2013 after months of rebuilding thanks to many staff members who still work there now.
"Being here every day. All of us with the kitchen crew. We worked so hard that we can keep feeling that we open tomorrow," said one server.
Now that the restaurant is back on track, the Saladino’s focus has shifted to helping others.
The front of the restaurant is all lit up in pink. That's because they owners say they are donating money to Staten Island University Hospital's Comprehensive Breast Center.
Every Wednesday in October, 20 percent of every restaurant bill is being donated to the hospital’s breast center. For Saladino, it’s just one way to give back to those who have given so much to them.