LARGO, Fla. — A number of Tampa Bay restaurants were left shuttered after Hurricanes Helene and Milton — some temporarily, and others longer term.

That left employees wondering what was next.

Jonathan Hewett, founder and owner of Service Station, said many turned to his website.

What You Need To Know

  • The founder of Service Station said the website saw a jump in people looking for hospitality jobs after Hurricanes Helene and Milton

  • Owner Jonathan Hewett said there were about 1,500 job seekers on the site in October, compared to the usual 1,000

  • According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, statewide unemployment claims jumped by more than 4,000 the week after Helene and by more than 4,500 the week after Milton

  • Hewett said the storms came at the end of the slow season, making it an even tougher time for workers

“Two or three days following the storm, I mean, my phone was just ringing every two minutes. A job seeker — ‘Hey, my restaurant’s been shut down.’ They’re sending me pictures of the bar that’s just, like, completely ruined and not even there anymore,” said Hewett.

Hewett created Service Station in 2021. The website connects job seekers and employers in the hospitality industry. He said he was inspired by his family’s business — his wife and father-in-law own Finley’s Irish Pub — and the challenges restaurants faced during the pandemic. Hewett said this latest blow comes at a particularly bad time for workers.

“They have bills to pay, they have kids to feed, and because those storms happened towards the end of the slow season and we are getting into the busy season now, a few weeks out from the storm, but there weren’t really many jobs open,” he said.

Data from the U.S. Dept. of Labor shows unemployment claims statewide jumped by more than 4,000 the week after Hurricane Helene and by more than 4,500 the week after Milton. That’s not broken down by industry, but Hewett said traffic on Service Station’s website saw a big increase after the storms. While a normal month would involve about 1,000 job seekers looking for work, he said this month saw about 1,500.

“I’ve been trying my best to get in contact with employers all over Tampa Bay to either make room to employ one extra person, bring them on part time, or find those places that are getting ready for the busy season,” Hewett said.

Finley’s hired two full-time employees from storm damaged businesses Caddy’s and Frenchy’s.

Hewett said Service Station is always free for people looking for work, but he offered the site’s platform to employers at no cost during October. He said Nov. 1 is the last day to take advantage of that. Hewett estimates he and his team helped as many as 300 people get interviews since the storms. While demand has slowed down on the site, he said there’s still work to be done to help those suddenly without a job get back on their feet.

Visit St. Pete-Clearwater launched its “Still Shining” campaign this week to get the word out to visitors that the destination, and many of its shops and restaurants, are open for business.

Director of Public Relations Jason Latimer said it’s estimated 80% of the area’s hotels, attractions and restaurants are up and running and welcoming guests.

He said roughly one in ten jobs in Pinellas County is tourism-related.