It has been two years since Hurricane Katrina and much is still the same. Sid-Mar’s has had some major challenges in rebuilding after Katrina. We are still fighting the insurance company over our wind storm damage and loss of income.

The State of Louisiana commandeered our property for the U.S. Corps of Engineers to build the flood gates and new pumps at the 17th Street Canal. To this date, we have not been compensated for our land or for our 38 years in business.

Bucktown, the great little fishing village will never be allowed to come back and Sid-Mar’s will never be able to rebuild on our property.

I understand that the city needs flood protection, but not at the expense of Sid-Mar’s and Bucktown. If the flood walls along the New Orleans side of the canal would have been built properly by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, then Sid-Mar’s and Bucktown would be up and running by now.

This is another one of Katrina tragedies that my mother and I have had to deal with. My family had poured our life into building a great historic restaurant. We would like the opportunity to rebuild in Bucktown and start serving seafood to all of New Orleans again.

It is appalling that we have not been paid for our damage from the insurance company or by the State of Louisiana after they took our property and business. I cannot understand how the government can take your property and not pay you after two years.

Great loss has been suffered by all after Katrina; however my family has been destroyed financially -- and our life’s work and my future -- along with my two sons’ futures -- have been changed forever.

It is shameful that the State or the Corps has not paid us after two years. We have been forced to file suit against the State and the insurance company. The financial strain of the litigation is another burden that we have had to endure.

I know that Katrina destroyed our building, but not our business -- the State of Louisiana and the U.S. Corps of Engineers has destroyed that. The inability for us to reopen our business is because the State has not paid us for the taking of our property.

At the age of 43, I have had my life changed forever. My family and two sons had a great future in the restaurant business in Bucktown where I grew up. Today, that has been changed due to the government’s failure to compensate us for the taking of our property.

I hope to one day return Sid-Mar’s to its former unique little seafood shack that my mother and late father started in 1967. We will keep up the fight as long as possible to ensure the resurrection of Sid-Mar’s of Bucktown.

Thank you New Orleans for 38 great years. To all of our loyal customers and dear friends, I would like to tell you that, at this time, we are not sure what the future will bring.

Sid-Mar’s forever,

Kent Burgess

 Thanks for all the great years,

Marion,Kent,Carol,Tina,Justin, & Zachary