Latest news with #RickyT's
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Treasure Island's ‘Back to the Beach' festival to welcome visitors after back-to-back hurricanes
The Brief Back to the Beach: Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights festival is this weekend on Treasure Island. The city was forced to cancel its 'Sanding Ovations' festival because of ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the fall. This weekend's smaller version of the festival is a sign of hope for the community as it recovers from the devastating storms. TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. - The wind on Thursday was the perfect weather to test kites out before Treasure Island's Back to the Beach: Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights festival this weekend. It comes after Hurricanes Helene and Milton forced the city to cancel the Sanding Ovations and kite festivals in the fall. "It was devastating to not have the event, and we weren't the only event that was canceled," said sculptor Meredith Corson-Doubleday, who runs Sanding Ovations with her husband. "It just physically was impossible to do. Every city vehicle was being used for the recovery process and the cleanup process." What they're saying "It's a smaller version, but it's almost more exciting than Sanding Ovations in November because we've been without it for so long," Corson-Doubleday said about this weekend's festival. "I haven't carved sand in almost two years, and so it feels so good to get back in the sand." READ: Treasure Island working to help small businesses still recovering from hurricanes The storms badly damaged Corson-Doubleday's home, like so many others. "The island has changed overnight. It happened overnight, and it'll never get back to what it was as far as, you know, the structures and the buildings. But we're resilient people, and we are going to get through this," Corson-Doubleday said. Big picture view Corson-Doubleday and event organizers said this weekend's festival welcoming people back represents a light at the end of the tunnel as so many are still rebuilding. "It's a little surreal and kind of weird that we're out here, you know, having fun, but it's a lot of work building, and you can hear in the background, you can hear the workers, all the machines and all the clanging of all the tools and everything back there because we are being put back together," Corson-Doubleday said. "We are building, and they're building. It's almost like this weekend is a turning point." "Come enjoy the sculptors, the vendors, the kites, and to show that we're still here and doing things, trying to get back to a little whatever normal is," Joe Fala, who is in charge of the kite portion of the festival, said. The backstory Reopening favorite spots on Treasure Island, like VIP Mexican Restaurant and Ricky T's, helps restore some normalcy. Caddy's on Sunset Beach also reopened Thursday morning. READ: Treasure Island mayor sends letter to President Donald Trump about FEMA rules They'll operate out of a massive enclosed tent for about a year while waiting for permits to rebuild their restaurant next door. "It has been a tough road and, you know, to see something happening and being able to open, it makes it feel really good," Randy Esponda, CEO of SunPubs Hospitality Group that owns Caddy's, said. Esponda said the structure itself is structurally sound. "We don't have to tear the building down. We're not bulldozing it. We're rebuilding it, refurbishing it, and getting it as open as soon as possible," Esponda said. "It means a lot to a lot of people. A lot of memories were created here, and we're just happy that we're able to restore it to continue making more memories." CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Esponda said the storms forced four to five feet of sand into the original Caddys, and sand was in every crevice of the restaurant. "It was astonishing, the amount of damage and surreal to see it in person," Esponda said. "It's just devastating," Stephen Santasieri, General Manager of the Treasure Island location, said. "Even right now, going around and looking at the neighborhoods, they're still not fully back. And it's sad to know that there are people still that are without homes. And it really has brought the community together. But our building also, it's so sad to see, but it just means better things in the future and rebuild and making it great." They'll cook their staples in a food truck beside the tent. "I'm glad that we were able to get this up and running. It's not ideal, but we will be back in our building soon, and for now, it's just perfect," Santasieri said. Santasieri said the timing of Caddy's reopening right before spring break is also perfect. "Tourism is huge for this area. I mean, it's such a beautiful beach and such a nice area, and I'm hoping that the hurricanes didn't scare off the tourists for the season, and so far, it doesn't seem like it has," Santasieri said. READ: Husband of St. Pete Rep. charged with stealing state funds and owing over $100,000 in taxes They're also looking into getting cabanas again while the rebuild happens. "At the end of the day, it was a parking lot in the sand, and we were able to operate a restaurant and a bar out of it. And I just want to thank everyone for all the hard work. (I'm) really looking forward to a great season and a great year," Santasieri said. What's next The Back to the Beach: Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Pets aren't allowed on the beach, although leashed pets are allowed on the Beach Trail. "This is kind of their Super Bowl over the next couple of months," said Jason Latimer, the Director of Public Relations for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. Latimer said that with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg last week, Treasure Island's festival this weekend, and many other events across Pinellas County coming up show the area is ready to welcome everyone back. The Source FOX 13's Kailey Tracy collected the information in this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Months after Helene, popular Treasure Island bar and restaurant to reopen with a bang
The Brief Treasure Island's popular bar and restaurant, Ricky T's, is hosting a re-opening block party on Friday night. The restaurant has been closed since Hurricane Helene flooded it with a nearly nine-foot storm surge, destroying its interior. The restaurant's owner said that the re-opening is a monumental accomplishment and credits the hard work of his staff for allowing it. TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. - Workers bolted on Ricky T's sign on Wednesday – a sure sign of things to come on Treasure Island. "We have food trucks coming here," Ricky T's owner, Brad Piche, said. "We have bands, and we have one hell of a party planned." The backstory After five months of rebuilding the popular bar and restaurant from Hurricane Helene's damage, Piche said they're re-opening Friday with a block party. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "It's pretty extensive," Piche said about the damage. "When you get a tidal surge of nine feet, we're standing five feet above sea level, so nine feet is four feet up the walls. It brings in the beach sand. It brings in the dirty water flood." READ: Actress Michelle Trachtenberg found dead in Manhattan apartment Piche said, "Primarily, everything from five feet and down was destroyed." Piche said they're building back stronger, installing concrete bars and floodgates, and waterproofing the inside. What they're saying As crews continue to work on the building itself, Ricky T's' staff is getting ready for customers. "We're trying to rally the troops for sure. This is the first staff meeting that we've had in quite some time," Piche said Wednesday about the employee meeting. "It's more than a business. It's a home, for sure. This is a family business. So, it's not a typical corporate-run place. This is very family-oriented," Piche said. "The people that have been working here, a lot of them, have been here a long time. A lot of our customers and people have been here a long time. So, the relations go a lot deeper." Piche said the work on the inside is a little behind schedule, but they'll announce the re-opening date for the inside of the restaurant at the party on Friday night. READ: Trump administration directs agencies to plan for massive layoffs "It's a big step. It's another chapter moving forward. Everybody's been sort of misplaced for the last four-plus months," Piche said. "Everybody's been trying to find work, find a place to live, get their vehicle situations straightened out. It has been a challenge for everybody." "It's a big deal for all of us," Piche said about Friday's party. "I think we're excited. The community is excited, and we're expecting it to be a huge success," Piche said. What's next The party starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, and the Big Brother Band will start at 6 p.m. Staff said it's full circle because the storms forced them to cancel Big Brother's concert at Ricky T's in November. The Source FOX 13's Kailey Tracy collected the information in this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
