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Open for business | Island Scoops ice cream shop
FOX 13's Corey Beckman highlights Island Scoops ice cream shop as they struggle to stay open after being forced to open a temporary location after Hurricane Helene flooded their business.
BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. - The owner of a Bradenton Beach bagel shop is helping a fellow business owner stay afloat after she lost her ice cream store and bakery during Hurricane Helene.
In early September, things were looking up for Island Scoops owner Julie Kirkwood. She had just renovated the shop and was merging it with the Island Dough Company when Hurricane Helene hit.
"It's so heartbreaking, you know, you just start to cry, you just don't know what to do. You're speechless," said Kirkwood.
Island Scoops was buried in sand after Hurricane Helene.
She recalled jet-skiing out to the shop the day after Hurricane Helene and saw that it had been destroyed.
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Kirkwood added that ice cream cabinets that were bolted to the ground had been scattered around the shop.
The storm surge from Hurricane Helene scattered ice cream cabinets throughout the store.
A 400-pound ice cream cooler from Island Scoops was discovered on Egmont Key.
One cooler was washed away by Helene, and was eventually found by Anna Maria Charters on the beach of Egmont Key.
Kirkwood estimates she lost about $120,000 worth of equipment and products in the storm.
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While she rebuilt, a fellow business owner stepped up to help.
Uncle Nick's Bagels gave Kirkwood a place to sell her items.
The owner of Uncle Nick's Bagel Shop gave Kirkwood a place to sell her products while she rebuilds.
"It’s the least I can do. It helps them, it helps us, and keeps the community strong, and we go forward from there," said Uncle Nick’s owner, Craig Thomsen.
Kirkwood says once she gets the sand out, then it will be time to start rebuilding.
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"It’s just part of our family now. We have full intention of getting ourselves back out there," said Kirkwood.
Julie Kirkwood had just finished renovating Island Scoops and was merging it with another business when Hurricane Helene hit.
Kirkwood hopes to move back to their Bradenton Beach location by the spring of 2025.
In the meantime, Island Scoops is available online and at its temporary location at Uncle Nick's Bagels on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton.
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