He found nothing, only an empty street.

NEWYORKER: The Swan

Still, there is more opportunity in an empty Newark street to loot and rob than there was in the streets of London during recent riots there and yet we see nothing even close to that in New Jersey in the wake of Irene, though obviously more will come to light as damage is assessed and the storm moves further north.

FORBES: Crime in the Wake of Hurricane Irene

The Costa Coffee chain, part of Whitbread which also owns Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn, wants to open a shop in an empty Victorian building in King Street.

BBC: King Street

The chain is part of Whitbread, which also owns Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn, and wants to open a shop in an empty Victorian building in King Street.

BBC: Rivals join together to keep Costa Coffee out of Bakewell

He opened up his new place, Stanley's(ph), even before the Quarter officially reopened, an oasis on a street full of empty storefronts.

NPR: New Orleans Residents Return to a Changed City