Revive Hidden Anchor: Together We Can!
Donation protected
Hurricane Helene hit Hidden Anchor Tiki Bar & Grill hard, but even in the midst of chaos, there are silver linings. The good, the bad & the ugly of it all. Let's help this business get back on their feet. Supporting a locally owned business that has been open for less than 6 months. They want to come back, they want to rebuild, rebuy and re-establish Hidden Anchor Tiki Bar & Grill as a great local spot for all of the community to enjoy.
The Good: The outpouring of support from the community has been incredible—neighbors, friends, and even strangers have come together to lend a hand. Their employees have shown heart and loyalty, stepping up when we needed them most. Miraculously, the restaurant is still standing, even though it felt like everything else around us crumbled. And in a strange twist of fate, the flooding actually put out the fire that had started. They are so grateful for that. Everything else—equipment, furniture, the little details that make our place special—can be replaced. Most importantly, they can & will rebuild. They will reopen.
The Bad: Watching their business flood in real-time on cameras, unable to do anything about it, was gut-wrenching for them. It was like a bad dream—seeing flames spark, water rushing in, things free floating. The hardest part is that they haven't even been open for six months yet. They were just starting to find a rhythm, and now they feel right back at square one. They questioned the strength to do it all over again.
The Ugly: The financial burden is devastating. It feels like they are being forced to start over from scratch, and the reality of replacing all the brand-new kitchen equipment—stuff that hadn’t even had the chance to install yet—is beyond frustrating. Re-buying everything they just purchased five months ago is disheartening. With flood insurance costs through the roof, not being able to afford to carry flood and run the restaurant, they feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. But life has its costs, and this one came swinging—hard—just as they were finding their footing. It’s a tough hit, but they are not ready to give up. They have come too far to stop now. They will rise, and Hidden Anchor will be back.
If you know Joe & Dawn you know that they would give their shirt off their back to those in need. You know that they give back to the community, show appreciation in several ways to veterans, public safety workers, officers etc. They have been truly humbled by this experience and while things could have been worse this one hit hard as a new business.
If you have made it this far down know that us Gwin Girls appreciate you. We appreciate you for supporting our parents in this devastating time. Note that all funds will be going towards everything restaurant related. (Equipment, food, staff, seating etc.)
Organizer and beneficiary
Brenna Gwin
Organizer
Tarpon Springs, FL
Dawn Gwin
Beneficiary