. >> reporter: these last few weeks couldn't have come quickly enough for restaurant owner tony cybill. three of his family's restaurants were destroyed by the flood waters from the potomac last april when the flood gates were let down. >> i stood at the top of the stairs and could look in and the chairs were floating around. >> reporter: the river pushed the 12 feet of water into tony and joe's riverside grills and other restaurants and businesses. this is how it looked from above that day. water logged cars from the parking garage. workers cleaning up. residents and office tenants out until portable generators could be brought in. they've lost millions of dollars in revenue. spent a year rebuilding cooking what they can on their patio. >> we've gotten a lot of the heavy duty construction behind us. and we're getting red did to start doing some of the finished work. >> reporter: tony and joe's will have a whole new look and nick's riverside grill has been gutted and expanded into the old restaurant space. >> hopefully they'll get it renovated and bring everyone back. >> reporter: in a