Davis Islands, which suffered significant storm surge damage from Hurricane Helene, is slowly but surely returning to normalcy.

Island Pizza, owned by John Harr, resumed operations shortly after the hurricanes passed. Harr, a local businessman for 15 years, has owned the pizzeria for the past 12 years. “The people here are super nice. It’s its own little community. It’s very unique,” Harr said.

Harr also owns The Cork Room, a wine bar adjacent to Island Pizza. Both businesses faced significant challenges after Hurricane Helene, with storm surge affecting their operations. Fortunately, both establishments are now open again.

However, Harr notes that business has not fully returned to pre-hurricane levels. Many nearby apartments remain empty and are still undergoing renovations due to storm damage. “I would say probably at least a third of the people don’t live over here right now,” Harr explained.

While daytime business is mostly back to normal, the nightlife is still suffering. Harr is hopeful that this will change after the holiday season as more people move back into the renovated apartments.

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(Image credit: Spectrum News)