F.M. Don’s on W Marion Ave in Punta Gorda has been a staple in the community for years.
However, it’ll have to keep its doors closed for a little bit after the place got flooded with nearly two feet of water from Hurricane Helene.
Owner and Chef Keith Bernard Meyer told FOX 4’s Victoria Scott it’s the worst damage he’s seen to date.
You can watch Victoria’s full report here:
Punta Gorda restaurant cleans up damages from Hurricane Helene
Meyer said it’s all water damage caused by flooding. He described the water as a cesspool of sewage, grease, mud, and other garbage.
He also said the whole place needs to get sanitized, the floors need to get ripped out, and the outlets need to be replaced.
All of that takes time.
“Honestly, I feel mostly bad for the employees because the employees work on tips,” Meyer said. “If they’re not working, they’re not getting paid in this kind of business. So, I mean, we do have a few people on salary, but basically, they rely on this job for their income. You know, it hurts us. Obviously, it hurts everybody, but at the end of the day, the employees are the ones who get hurt the most.”