While some are reopening, other Crystal River businesses still have a long road to recovery

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. – St. John’s Tavern is back open and owner Greg Thompson can’t believe his eyes.

“I mean, it’s a sigh of relief to see that we’re back up and running,” Thompson said.

Looking at the restaurant now, you would never guess that just a few days ago the popular Crystal River watering hole was full of water.

Hurricane Helene flooded it and much of downtown.

“We came back, dried the place out, brought the equipment back, and here we are,” Thompson said.

A few doors down, Kane’s Cattle Co. is still a work in progress. Owner Morgan Sundberg and her employees are still in the middle of repairs.

WFTS

“Our first and most important goal is to get the drywall out. Taking out the insulation,” Sundberg said.

Luckily, two of her other restaurants in town are now dry, reopened and able to serve the customers she would like to serve.

“Right now it is very, very important to support the local population as much as possible,” said Sundberg.

She needs their support because reopening her main restaurant will take money, sweat and time – perhaps 90 days – after the historic flood.

But with the water now gone, resilience is needed here at Kane’s and across the Crystal River as downtown slowly comes back to life.

“It gives you hope that you don’t go home in tears,” Sundberg said.