From the back, this is what the scene looked like at Sergi’s last July 16. NorthCountryNow.com photo by Debbie Morgan

By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- Almost a year to the day after the roof was blown off it in a storm, Sergi's Italian Restaurant is reopening today at 10 Market Street.

State Sen. Joseph Griffo (R-Rome), whose 47th District includes Potsdam, is due to be there for the reopening today.

There was concern yesterday that the planned opening might have to be postponed because a certificate of occupancy had not been issued, but village Code Enforcement Officer Larry Colbert said he delivered it before the end of the day. Their new liquor license had also not been delivered but is in their hands now, according to Lisa Sergi.

Work on the building began almost immediately after the strong winds of the July 16, 2012 storm peeled the roof off the building and destroyed upstairs apartments. Damage inside the restaurant and banquet hall was extensive enough that it was gutted and has been rebuilt.

In the meantime, owner Sam Spagnolo moved the restaurant down the street, to 38 Market St., smaller quarters for the popular restaurant.

The main dining room at 10 Market is ready, but the adjacent banquet hall is not quite ready for business.

The Spagnolos started up their business in Potsdam in 1967 with a small pizzeria on Elm Street.