Downtown Augusta restaurant managers say business is getting back to normal more than three weeks after Hurricane Helene slammed the region.
“We are actually busier now than 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 hit on Sept. 27, when it became apparent the Augusta area would get hit hard, he said. The 5 p.m. curfew imposed for several days afterwards slowed business. “We lost 40% for the week (following the storm),” he said.
On Monday at lunchtime, the lines at Nacho Mama’s and many other downtown restaurants were long.
Shelby Simpson, manager at Groucho’s Deli, said the restaurant closed for one day due to water restrictions. The next day wifi was available and the restaurant brought in canned drinks.
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Boll Weevil restaurant shut down for a few days because so many employees couldn’t make it to work because of damage to homes and vehicles, and getting supplies for the restaurant has been slow, said Eric Tedesco, a floor manager at the restaurant.
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“Missing the Iron Man hurt,” he said. The annual Ironman 70.3 Augusta triathlon had been scheduled for Sept. 29, but was canceled due to storm damage. It typically draws thousands of people to downtown Augusta. Tedesco said that is usually a very big weekend for Boll Weevil.
Also, the bakery that supplies the Boll Weevil’s popular desserts has been shut down because of the hurricane. On Monday the restaurant only had three cheesecakes left – not enough to last much longer, he said.
