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Business & Tech

World Newsstand Reopens in Laguna

The local fixture is back in business after flooding forced a lengthy closure.

Five months after torrential rains and flood damage closed the in Laguna Beach, employees Louis Antonaccio and Gerry Muzzy reopened the downtown landmark.

Customers were ready and waiting at 8 a.m. to purchase their magazines and newspapers. 

"I missed all of the people and the daily good humor," said Antonaccio, who has worked at World Newsstand five years. "I read a lot and played guitar while I was waiting for [the newsstand] to reopen. It's good to be working again."

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Passers-by and customers flashed thumbs-up signs, offered encouragement and even donated money.

"Wow, you're back in biz," Laguna Drug employee Alyssa Richards said. "It felt so funny when you weren't here. You're just like an institution for us."

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On Dec. 22, heavy rains flooded downtown Laguna Beach, and the newsstand was hit hard.

"There was 2 1/2 feet of water right here," said Antonaccio. "The creek just let loose. The water subsided and it was all mud. I live a block away and I was wet-vaccing my place for hours."

Laguna Beach resident Timothy Saunders wrote out a check to the newsstand and handed it to Muzzy. 

"I gave a little donation," said Saunders, "because I lost my house in the landslide in 2005 and a lot of people helped me. It's the little things that surprise you."

"People around this town are like that," said 31-year Laguna Beach resident Ken Rochelleau. "If there's a disaster here, people take care of each other. It's good to see the newsstand open again. It's a fixture here in town."

Other visitors included City Council member Kelly Boyd, who owns the Marine Room Tavern, and Don Tobias, who dropped by with his wife, Shirley, and their dog, Bitsy, to purchase a morning newspaper.

"I love it here," said Shirley Tobias. "Everyone who works here knows Bitsy. They have little doggy treats. They take really good care of us."

Contacted later, newsstand owner Heidi Miller said she was "overwhelmed" by the community's support.

"People have driven from San Diego, Long Beach and Orange Park Acres to come by and support us," she said. "Plus a couple hundred Laguna Beach residents have stopped in. It's so heartwarming."

World Newsstand is on Ocean Avenue at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway.

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