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Business owners on a small street in the Manatee County city of Holmes Beach are recovering and moving forward, in different ways, after a pair of separate and unrelated car-storefront crashes.
In one incident, on April 18 on Marina Drive, the driver of Jeep plowed into two stores. Two days later, across 56th Street on Marina Drive, a vehicle crashed through the window of another business and caught fire.
Gypsea Tides, where the Jeep — with a tire cover that says "Sassy but Classy" next to a kissing-lips image — drove through the side window on April 18, reopened its doors April 26. The store owner was among three people injured in the crash. All were treated and released from the hospital within days, Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer says. The driver of the Jeep was cited for careless driving.
About 25 people gathered inside the store for a prayer circle before its reopening, owner Rexann Cecil tells the Business Observer.
“Come see us — that is the best way people can support us right now,” says Cecil, standing on crutches following her injury. Her store, which has been open for about a year, sells jewelry, clothing, hair wraps, glitter tattoos and beach-themed gifts.
As far as how the store is moving forward through insurance claims, Cecil says she “can’t comment” and has been advised to refrain from speaking to the media.
Next door, Reed Fitness & Physical Therapy was also welcoming patrons April 26. It never stopped serving clients despite the Jeep crashing into its left wall.
“Our landlord’s been amazing,” says Melissa Reed, co-owner of Reed Fitness & Physical Therapy. He flew in from Wisconsin “within hours” of the crash and had an electrician on-site to make sure they could operate safely with power, Reed recalls.
The business used a tarp so it could continue helping its physical therapy and CrossFit patrons amid the damage. Work was complete on the new wall as of April 26.
“We’re still working through all of the insurance,” Reed says. “Hopefully, it’s not on us." She and her husband handled different kinds of damage at a previous business in Connecticut, she says, and the insurance piece was complex.
Reed and her husband have had their business on the island for about a year.
“We have a lot of safety concerns” about the area because “cars are blowing through this parking lot,” Reed says, noting her son walks to her business from Anna Maria Elementary School on Gulf Drive. She hopes barriers or something to control traffic can be installed. “Someone’s going to get killed," Reed says.
Across 56th Street, another storefront on Marina Drive is boarded up at Raders Reef, where the vehicle crashed through the window and caught fire April 20. One patron in the store as well as the driver were injured in the crash, which police say remains under investigation.
The dangerous situation has caught the attention of authorities, too — in a preventive context, not just in cleanup and citations.
“We want everybody to pay attention. I know some people are here on vacation, but they can’t have a vacation mindset while driving,” Chief Tokajer says. “There are lives at stake.”
The building housing Raders Reef seashell and gift shop has been deemed unsafe following the vehicle crash and fire, according to a bright orange notice from the city of Holmes Beach posted on the window. Nearby, a sign says the business is celebrating 45 years.
“We’ll survive,” says Tammy Crawford, who owns Raders Reef with her husband. She was outside the store the morning of April 26, sitting on a folding chair while letting people know it was closed. “We’re in the process of having different adjusters” look at the building, she says. “It’s like hurry up and wait.”
It’s not clear when the business will open, but she says, “I think it’s going to be a little while.” It helps knowing her customers and other good people are out there in the community, she says, noting one person sent her a gift card to help.
Mark Crawford of Raders Reef says they are still working to find a “direction” and “what to do" next.
As far as how they are proceeding following the crash, he says: “It’s too early to tell.”
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