This is the first in a two-part series. Part II publishes on Friday.
CENTERBURG — Two car accidents. Two local businesses. One community supporting all who need it.
This is the philosophy and ethos of the slogan “Centerburg Strong.”
The first incident took place on Jan. 22, when Long Branch Pizza’s Phalen Huhn was struck on Ohio 36 headed to work. She survived the crash along with her mother Christina Huhn, who was driving the 2020 Honda Accord westbound, but the passenger Paul Baker was killed.
A 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling eastbound and went left of center, hitting the Huhn’s car head-on at around 60 mph. Huhn and her mother were transported to Grant Hospital in Columbus for serious injuries.
Huhn’s small intestine and part of her colon were removed. She needed two plates inserted into her clavicle and six screws into her back to stabilize her skeleton.
A Centerburg citizen, Eric Stover set up a GoFundMe for Huhn’s family shortly after the accident. Local businesses and citizens like Webb’s Gas Station, Hometown Market, Eggmann’s Eatery and others donated. As of April 11, the GoFundMe has raised $10,090.
Long Branch Pizza has survived, reopening March 8, Huhn said.
Patriarch Mark Huhn hopes to expand the shop’s hours once his wife recovers from the accident.
“She’s probably gotten three months before she can come in here,” Mark Huhn said. “We used to be open seven days a week with no lunch. So our hours are almost cut in half.”
Huhn was surprised by his daughter and wife’s recovery speed. He figured Phalen would be in the hospital for six months.
The employees are one reason Long Branch Pizza has been able to stay afloat, Mark Huhn said, and a reason why he decided to reopen the shop.
Still, food costs continue to rise, he said. For example, a can of tomato sauce costs have risen — what was $18 a can three years ago is now $44. Cheese was $79 a block; now it’s $102. Pepperoni was $99, now it’s $131, Mark Huhn said.
Huhn points to the dining area, which isn’t currently operational due to the accident, he said.
“We spent a lot of money in this place to get it to where it’s at inside and out. This should have been open by now but obviously with the accident, (we’ve had to) push it back,” he said.
Huhn said he also needed to re-open the shop for his own peace of mind. He needed to get back to work. He owed it to his employees.
“I just want to personally thank the community,” Huhn said. “They did an amazing job.
“The amount of support this town gave us for what little time we’ve been here for … The amount of support we received is amazing.”
