Hotels beginning to clear out as electrical power is restored

Hotels in parts of the state struck by long-term power outages over the past week are beginning to see business return to normal.

Hotels in parts of the state struck by long-term power outages over the past week are beginning to see business return to normal.

The Madison Hotel, in Morris Township, was fully booked Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, according to Scott McArthur, general manager.

“Since Tuesday, we have had people start to check out as they’ve had power come back on in their house,” McArthur said today, the day utilities promised virtually all power would be restored.

While the Madison Hotel staff was able to handle the rush of customers, it was difficult dealing with the many people who continued to call after the hotel was full.

“The phone was ringing pretty much nonstop,” McArthur said.

In addition to the 186 rooms being full, the hotel’s restaurant also was packed, he said.

Business at the hotel had returned to a normal level Thursday, McArthur said.

Fred Strackhouse, owner of the Stockton Inn, in Stockton, had a more challenging experience.

His inn’s nine rooms continue to be full on Thursday, as some residents in Hunterdon County remain without power.

“It’s actually gotten worse,” Strackhouse said. “Their (initial) thoughts were that they would have power shortly.”

Strackhouse’s 26-table restaurant was full and in the middle of serving meals when it lost power on Saturday. The staff brought out candles and was able to finish serving those who were seated, though the restaurant didn’t take any more customers.

Strackhouse was prepared for a long-term outage. He bought a backup generator after Hurricane Irene, which he put to use starting on Sunday.

“We’ve had 10, maybe 11 times now since the beginning of September where we’ve lost power for whole days,” he said.

Strackhouse said planning was important to keep his business operating. In July, he had a tree company clear out 12 trees from a hillside next to his parking lot.

“If I hadn’t done that, I’m sure I would have had four or five of those trees down in my parking lot when the storm hit,” Strackhouse said.

But the inn owner hasn’t taken advantage of the storm – he let some customers stay for free when they showed up in need, he said.

At the Olde Mill Inn, in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards, the hotel survived a power outage on Saturday night in the middle of three weddings.

“We got through the weddings with a partial generator and candles,” the inn’s president, Bruce Bocina, said. “It turned out well with all the candles, and gave it a different atmosphere, which was kind of nice.”

By Sunday morning, the hotel had restored power — and has been sold out ever since.

“Every day more people get power, so there are more checkouts, but there are still a fair amount of people without power,” Bocina said.

Jersey Central Power & Light reported at 5 a.m. Thursday that most of the 61,000 New Jersey customers who remained without power would have power restored later today.