Tampa Soul Food Restaurant Reopens After Hurricane Damage
A popular Tampa soul food restaurant has reopened its doors after being closed for 16 months for repairs. The establishment required extensive renovations to recover from damage sustained during Hurricane Milton. The reopening is seen as a positive milestone in the community's ongoing recovery from the storm.
- The reopened restaurant is the Blue Flame Soul Food Restaurant, located on Fowler Avenue in Tampa and owned by Tamika Vaught. - Hurricane Milton in October 2024 caused the entire kitchen roof to collapse and resulted in approximately three feet of water flooding the building. - The 16-month closure was prolonged by an estimated eight to nine months of delays related to the landlord and insurance payouts before an additional eight to nine months of rebuilding could be completed. - On its reopening day, customers lined up down the sidewalk, demonstrating strong community support for the establishment known for Southern classics like barbecue ribs and collard greens. - Many members of the restaurant's staff, who had taken other jobs during the extended closure, gave two weeks' notice at their temporary positions to return to Blue Flame. - The restaurant's struggle was part of a broader crisis for Tampa Bay eateries following back-to-back hurricanes, with widespread power outages and flooding causing many to lose tens of thousands of dollars in food and revenue. - The financial strain on local restaurants was significant, with at least two other establishments in the Tampa Bay area closing permanently and attributing the decision directly to the impact of the storms. - In the wake of Hurricane Milton, FloridaCommerce activated a $50 million Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to aid businesses impacted by the storm.
