MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — The staff of an iconic candy shop in Madeira Beach, known as Candy Kitchen , has been working hard to reopen for business.
The inside of the nearly 75-year-old business was known to have colorful candy bars and memorabilia covering the walls but was damaged due to storm surge.
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“People just keep coming in and checking on us like we’re an old friend,” owner Matthew Giordano said.
This included a 10-year-old boy named Blake who walked up the day after Hurricane Helene to return some of the shop’s items he found in the sand and storm debris.
“Sitting here, you don’t know where to start, but a little kid knew where to start,” Giordano said.
As staff members have been cleaning, replastering and repainting, customers and neighbors have been stopping in to lend a hand.
“One guy who flew down to check on his house. His house is fine. He came down and just showed up with tools in his car, and he primed the walls with us,” Giordano said.