Business reopenings offer glimpse of hope to battered Pinellas beaches

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — The sun was shining on a picture-perfect Friday afternoon as Largo residents Lionel and Joyce Deschaine sat on a bench outside the Original Crabby Bill’s, waiting for the restaurant to reopen for the first time since Hurricane Helene.

Signs of the devastation caused by the Sept. 26 storm still could be found all around the area, from closed beaches to piles of debris further saturated by Hurricane Milton’s rain two weeks after Helene. But some beach businesses have reopened, and crowds full of overly stressed residents are lining up to welcome them back.

“We’ve been waiting for anything to reopen on Gulf Boulevard, for it to start to look normal again,” Lionel Deschaine said. “It’s slowly improving, but it’s not going to be weeks — more like three to six months before they’re back to normal. So, we’ve got to come down as often as we can to support these businesses, as they get back on their feet.”

Elsewhere outside Crabby’s, regulars and newcomers began to fill the outdoor bar area shortly before 4 p.m.

“This is a great place,” Belleair Beach resident Carol Chestnut said. “The people really care. It’s been really tough for everyone the last few weeks. But I had a little skip in my step knowing it was reopening today, because the Loder family really cares about their employees and the (Indian Rocks Beach) community.”

Inside their restaurant, Matt Loder and son Matt Jr. were busy shucking oysters in anticipation of a big dinner crowd.

According to the Loders, the damage caused by Helene’s storm surge forced the family to replace almost everything, including equipment, flooring, walls and virtually every piece of furniture.

“The amount of cleanup was the worst I’ve ever seen, especially with two storms back-to-back,” said Matt Loder, whose family opened the landmark restaurant in 1983. “We were all sweeping out the sand afterward and it seemed never-ending. It just wouldn’t end.”

Loder praised the Original Crabby’s team for working together to reopen.

“The team and family did it together, and it shows the character of the people,” he said. “Our customers, our neighbors, even our competitors, we are all helping each other, because we’re all in this together.”

Coco’s is back

On the north end of the island, Coco’s Crush Bar IRB was another of the island businesses that have reopened. Others include PJ’s Oyster Bar, Guppy’s, Groupers, IRB Creamery, Beach Waves Grill, Hurricane Eddie’s and Villa Gallace, according to the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce website and social media posts.

Coco’s manager Heidi Dobb said business was a bit slower than normal for this time of year, but those who have come through the door have expressed gratitude for the reopening.

“It’s definitely not the same, but we have been steady,” Dobb said. “People love it that we’ve been open, because there’s good vibes here. It’s a fun place, and you become friends with so many people, especially in times like these.”

Though the city’s Oktoberfest and other area events were canceled due to the storms, there are plans to host a crab festival this weekend and a Halloween party on Nov. 2 to help keep the positive vibes flowing.

“The saddest part is the mom-and-pop places that have been devastated and are not able to reopen,” Dobb said. “But we’re all helping each other, because we’re all in it together.”

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