March 1, 2009 – Following repair of damage caused by a water pipe that burst on January 16, Amano Italian Trattoria will re-open on Wednesday, according to an email the Marina City restaurant is sending to customers.

Bitter cold is probably to blame for a ruptured pipe that caused “major damage to our floors.” The water pipe was in the ceiling of Amano’s dining room. According to owners Joanne Chessie and James Terlizzi, the wood floors had to replaced to make sure there was no mold.

According to the email, Amano will re-open at 5:00 p.m. on March 4. (Left) Photo of Amano dining room from the restaurant’s web site.

Another pipe burst near the north side of the commercial platform, damaging the floors of the MTCA meeting room and adjacent offices. The high temperature that day was three degrees, reached at 11:59 a.m. The low had been minus 18 at 7:57 a.m.

Unit owners who attended the February 19 meeting of the MTCA board of directors say they were told the pipe was part of the sprinkler system and damage was estimated at $20,000.