Back in January, What Now reported on the then-upcoming opening of Grove Surf Cafe in Indian Rocks Beach. The cafe is a sister location to Grove Surf + Coffee, a surf shop and specialty cafe in St. Pete Beach.
Grove Surf Cafe went on to open successfully, and the two locations were working in tandem, offering specialty coffee and more to their respective communities. Then came Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the confusion that has followed—as well as the banding together of local people to support their communities and local business.
In the case of Grove Surf Cafe, hurricane damage was minimal. That location has reopened in Indian Rocks Beach. Damage to Grove Surf + Coffee has been much more extensive as a result of flooding, however, as in-depth coverage by St. Pete Rising described recently.
“What’s crazy to me is how fast everything rusted in just a couple of days,” owner Lindsey Gottschling said in the St. Pete Rising coverage. “The saltwater just ate away at it. This shop is going to need to be completely rebuilt.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with the rebuilding. As of this writing, nearly $28,000 of the $50,000 goal has been raised.
“Our favorite St. Pete Beach hangout, Grove Surf and Coffee, has been devastated by Hurricane Helene,” says the GoFundMe page. “Peter and Lindsey have poured their hearts into building a space that both the local community and tourists can enjoy and feel welcome. You may go to Grove for their fun drinks and great merch, but you return and stay for the friendliness and warmth of the staff, and the smiles behind the counter.
“It’s our turn to rally and show our love to one of our favorite small businesses during their time of need. While insurance will help towards the cost of the contents that were lost, it does not cover many expenses like the rebuild and labor involved to get it back up and running.”
Grove Surf + Coffee is working toward a reopening “by Christmas or early next year,” the St. Pete Rising coverage says.
You can stay up to date on Grove Surf + Coffee news by following @grovesurfandcoffee on Instagram.
