Restaurant managers in downtown Augusta say business is returning to normal, more than three weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the region.
“We're actually busier now than we were before the hurricane,” said Barry Blackston, co-owner of Nacho Mama's and Stillwater Taproom on Broad Street.
The businesses closed the day before Helene struck on Sept. 27, when it became clear the Augusta area would be hit hard, he said. The 5pm curfew imposed for several days afterward slowed things down. “We lost 40% this week (after the storm),” he said.
At lunchtime on Monday, the lines at Nacho Mama's and many other downtown restaurants were long.
Shelby Simpson, manager at Groucho's Deli, said the restaurant was closed for the day due to water restrictions. The next day WiFi was available and the restaurant brought in canned drinks.
The Boll Weevil restaurant has been closed for a few days because so many employees have been unable to go to work due to damage to homes and vehicles, and getting supplies for the restaurant has been slow, said Eric Tedesco, floor manager at the restaurant.
Getting started: Augusta restaurants open kitchens, hearts for victims of Hurricane Helene
“Missing Iron Man hurt,” he said. The annual Ironman 70.3 Augusta triathlon was scheduled for September 29, but was canceled due to storm damage. It typically draws thousands of people to downtown Augusta. Tedesco said this is usually a very big weekend for Boll Weevil.
The bakery that supplies the Boll Weevil's popular desserts is also closed due to the hurricane. As of Monday, the restaurant had only three cheesecakes left — not enough to last much longer, he said.
This article originally appeared in Augusta Chronicle: Downtown Augusta restaurants see more business in Helene's recovery
