On Valentine's Day 2007, an ice storm swept through Central Maryland, knocking down trees and causing hundreds of people to lose power.

Marc Morgan of Pasadena remembers that day well. Morgan, co-owner of the waterfront restaurant Windows on the Bay, had nearly 400 couples coming in that evening for a romantic dinner.

"I thought, well, this is going to be a long day," Morgan recalled with a chuckle.

But the power, somehow, was still functioning at the restaurant. Morgan and his business partner, Dennis Walz of Pasadena, managed to open up despite the wintry mess outside and get cooking.

After all,...