As one Cedar Key business closes, 3 more reopen after 2024 Hurricane Season

CEDAR KEY, Fla. (WCJB) – Businesses going back to normal hours across Levy County this week are Cedar Key Pearls, Dilly Dally Gally, and the Cedar Key Museum State Park.

“Very hopeful for what’s to come or what’s able to come,” shared Amy Henderson, owner of Dilly Dally Gally.

Henderson says the support they have received even while closed really warms her heart.

“It was unbelievable the support that came for the cleanup, meals, donations,” Henderson said.

Henderson says they were lucky that no water got into their store during Hurricane Helene, but for the first time in 30 years their courtyard was destroyed. They lost all their plumbing and had to re-do their electrical system.

“When I first came onto the island, when they allowed us to come over the bridge and come onto the island, it was very emotional,” Henderson shared.

Dock Street is now open for traffic again after partially caving in due to all the water during Helene.

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“People want to be here. They want to recapture their memories of here, and some people are new and enjoying what they see,” shared Cedar Key Mayor Sue Colson.

Colson says the recent holiday’s significantly helped to draw in many tourists such as Rick Cheshire who grew up visiting the island often.

“It’s where I need to put my money. You know some of these are my friends,” Cheshire shared.

This is his first time back since the storms hit, but he’s glad to see all the progress made.

“It’s going to take a long time. I saw friends houses, good friends houses that are gone now,” said Cheshire.

However, some business owners haven’t been so lucky.

“The clock is always ticking, and electric bills continue to come, water bills continue to come, there’s still an expense of owning the property even if there is no revenue coming in at all,” shared owner of Firefly Cottages, Ian Maki.

Maki says it’s just been too much trying to figure out insurance, so he’s decided to sell the property.

“Our property was a commercial property even though it was our home, and that really set us up for some bad luck in terms of disaster relief from the federal government,” Maki said.

While there is still more to do, for now these open signs that are lit up around the island are a sign of hope for those still getting back on their feet.

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