GULFPORT, Fla. — Gulfport was hit hard by Hurricane Helene and Milton – devastating the coastal areas – but the clean-up is underway and some businesses are opening back up. 

At Tommy’s Hideaway, a pizza and pub shop, customers are steadily streaming in. The shop was hit hard by the storms but managed to open three weeks later. 

Thomas Lussiano owns the business with his wife, Larisa. They first opened nearly two years ago just down the street from the beach. He hopes that more tourists come to visit and wants to get the word out that Gulfport is open for business. 

“Hopefully, people understand that we can come back, and hopefully the people that do live here get back on their feet because they got hit pretty hard,” Lussiano said. 

Just down the street at O’Maddy’s Bar and Grill, the Gulfport staple is also open and backed with customers. Joe Guenther has owned the business since 1989. He says O’Maddy’s is still on the mend. 

“Every day gets a little bit better – we had 85 employees and our main goal is to get those folks back to work. Right now, we are not even halfway there yet, but we’re getting there,” Guenther said.

He says that the community has banded together and is now hoping to see more people come visit the area. He says the community still has a lot more work to do, but that everyone is hopeful for the future.