Help Willy's Staff Recover from Hurricane Helene

As I write this it is with the heaviest of heavy hearts as Hurricane Milton fastly approaches the Pinellas Coast. I’m boarding up my house and getting ready to evacuate but I needed to sit down and ask for your help to those closest to me that really need it!!! The Family at Willy’s in St Pete Beach is in dire straits. We all knew that there was a price to pay for living in paradise but you are never quite ready for Mother Nature to bring the bill. Unfortunately, she did in the form of Hurricane Helena, the price was steep.

When I purchased Willy’s a little over five years ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It quickly became apparent that Willy’s was not my bar but the community of St. Pete Beaches/Pinellas County’s/The Snowbird’s and anyone else who was lucky enough to stumble into that unbelievably magical place filled with family, friends, love and memories. Willys was a place stuck in time, a relic, a piece of Old Florida that had managed to survive mothers nature’s wrath as well as big development. The community decided that I was not the owner of Willy’s but a curator, a keeper of history. I was not to change a thing!

I accepted that role and fell in love with St. Pete Beach, Willy’s, the community, and all the guests (unless you brought a party over seven). Not only did I purchase a bar on the beach but I also inherited a crazy, kooky, lovable cast of characters in A Flip Flop, Tank Top, Boozy Beach Play. My family and I fell in love as so many of you have. I have not hired a bartender or server since taking over, the cast came with the building and were part of the show.

So many have reached out and asked for an update from us and how they could help. We are down but we are not out. Hurricane Helene devastated our Restaurant with a storm surge, leaving our dedicated staff out of work for the foreseeable future. Thankfully everyone is safe, but many have lost their homes and personal belongings.

Our Landlord Charles, God Bless his and his family's soul has gathered his team and pledged to rebuild the magic (he also has his hands full with his restaurant Red White and Booze in Pass a Grille). I do have flood insurance to cover the contents and to rebuild the inside. Our team is resilient, and we are committed to rebuilding Willy’s and supporting each other during this difficult time. However, we need your help! This GoFundMe account is managed and distributed solely by the employees. Every donation will go directly to supporting our staff, many of whom are facing the overwhelming challenges of starting over. Thank you for standing by our Willy’s family!