A shift swap on 9/11: The story of the World Trade Center restaurant staff who lost their lives
The Independent • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Sekou Siby survived the 9/11 attacks by swapping shifts with a co-worker, missing the morning slot at Windows on the World, the World Trade Center's top-floor restaurant where all 170 people present died.
- The documentary short “Top of the World,” directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, revisits the legacy of Windows on the World, highlighting its 25-year history as a cultural landmark and a tight-knit immigrant community.
- Windows on the World was the highest-grossing restaurant in America, employing workers from over 60 countries who built a unique workplace culture amid New York’s diverse immigrant population.
- Survivors like Siby and chef Michael Lomonaco reflect on the trauma of losing colleagues and the lasting impact of the restaurant, with Siby becoming an advocate for restaurant workers and emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the tragedy.
- “Top of the World” premieres on CNN on September 7 at 8 p.m. ET, offering an intimate look at the restaurant’s history, its staff, and the human stories behind the 9/11 tragedy.
