On Tuesday, a cherished restaurant in Cortez Village welcomed customers back after being closed for four months due to the onslaught of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Slicker’s Eatery, which opened during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, has weathered numerous challenges, including red tide and now these recent hurricanes.

“The first storm brought three feet of water into the place,” recounted Bob Slicker, the owner. “Thankfully, the building itself is brick, but everything inside was destroyed. We’ve replaced all the furniture; the tables, chairs, we made them ourselves. Every piece of kitchen equipment was flooded.”

Despite the closure, Slicker and his team of 10 stayed active, contributing back to the community. “I feel blessed to be part of the Rotary Club,” Slicker said. “We’ve been working hard to maintain the spirit of Cortez. We’ve managed to distribute over $70,000 in appliances to residents who lost theirs, helped repair several homes, and supplied refrigerators.”

The staff also gave back in other ways, donating 67 bicycles to local children and providing free meals during the recovery period.

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(Image credit: Slicker’s Eatery)