ST. PETE BEACH — Small businesses in St. Pete Beach are still taking a hit from hurricanes Helene and Milton.

This is usually a busy season with tourists and holiday shopping, but business has slowed.

What You Need To Know

  • Small businesses in St. Pete Beach are still taking a hit from hurricanes Helene and Milton. This is usually a busy season with tourists and holiday shopping, but business has slowed

  • Breezy’s Beach Shop Owner Jessica Breese uses idle time to create products for her inventory, but hopes business bounces back

  • According to McKinsey & Company, nearly 60% of Florida's small businesses were in the path of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Florida on Oct. 9. The storm affected 34 counties, including those that were already recovering from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall a few days earlier

  • See list of beach businesses that have reopened since the storms

According to McKinsey & Company, nearly 60% of Florida's small businesses were in the path of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Florida on Oct. 9. The storm affected 34 counties, including those that were already recovering from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall a few days earlier.

Damage from Helene and Milton could cost tens of billions of dollars to fix, according to the NOAA.

“This is what we do when we are waiting for customers,” said Breezy’s Beach Shop Owner Jessica Breese, who uses idle time to create products for her inventory.

When Spectrum News visited her shop, she said only one customer had walked into her business that day. She says it’s not business as usual since the back-to-back storms.

“For example, spring break where you don’t even sit down, you know, it’s just a constant flow of people. You stay open later than you usually would,” said Breese.

She reopened her store after closing it for a month.

“Everyone’s favorite design is the little turtle,” she mentioned.

She is now sustaining business through online sales and loyal customers.

“There have been people that come down every year that have been supportive, people on my Facebook page that have been very supportive,” said Breese. But, she misses engaging with new faces.

“We’re getting people from all over the world, it’s always fun to hear where people are from,” she said.

With the holidays around the corner, she only has one wish.

“I’m hoping that the news gets out that it’s getting better here. It’s getting much better here. There’s, you know, restaurants open, some hotels open, Airbnbs are open. So, hopefully, get some people down here to pump the economy back up and give us little guys a chance,” she added.

Till then, she says her doors will remain open.

“I think it’s going to be a big boom all at once, and you’re not going to be expecting it,” said Breese.

She does expect this community to bounce back and thrive again.

See list of beach businesses that have reopened since the storms.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.