The SanCap Chamber recently hosted ribbon-cuttings to celebrate the re-emergence of two Sanibel Island businesses from Hurricane Ian destruction. They took place at the Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) office at 2460 Palm Ridge Road and Huxters Liquors at 1203 Periwinkle Way.
Hilton Grand Vacations, which has had an office on Sanibel for more than 25 years, relocated to a new location after sustaining hurricane damage to its previous office on Periwinkle Way.
“Our new local office has been 486 days in the making,” said Kevin Speidel, senior vice president of resort operations. “Our entire history of paper files, dating back several decades, was ruined by flood waters. Luckily, we had been converting many of the files to a digital, cloud-based format and starting over has been and will be fairly smooth.”
With efficient planning and excellent insurance coverage, the office was able to keep all its internal staff employed and got employees back onsite as quickly as was safely possible.
“Keeping our people engaged in the rebuilding of our location and active within the local community was important to them, and the surrounding community as a whole,” said Speidel.
“We applaud the Hilton Grand Vacations team for pulling together to bring back their services and further the islands’ mission to recover quickly by providing more accommodations for visitors,” said John Lai, president and CEO of the SanCap Chamber. “The hospitality market is the bedrock for our business community, and each new step in its progress is cause for celebration.”
“Being based in hospitality, the chamber has always been an exceptional partner, not only to HGV, but to all the businesses on Sanibel,” said Speidel. “So many people from all walks of life have had a special moment or two on Sanibel at one time or another, and the chamber has done a great job of subtly reminding people of those memories in all of the promotions they do.”
Huxters Market reopened its iconic storefront last March in the space originally occupied by Huxters Liquors. Now both businesses will resume operations in their traditional spaces as the liquor store reopens and the market returns to its space, working to restore its hot deli component for a full reopening, says co-owner Dan Murphy.
The liquor store offers a full selection of spirits, wine, fine cigars, and, Murphy says, “the coldest beer on the island.” Current hours are daily 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“The rebuild certainly took longer than we could have imagined, but our hardworking contractors as well as the city and the chamber have been helpful every step of the way,” said Murphy. “We are especially grateful for our employees who stuck by us and went above and beyond in helping us get to this point.”
The owners plan to have everything at 100 percent in the next few weeks and are looking forward to seeing all their regular customers back. “They can expect the same Huxters tradition of everything you need in a quick, convenient stop along with delicious, fresh food and smiling faces,” said Murphy.
“This step toward full recovery for Huxters is the brightest ray of hope,” said Lai. “For so many residents and visitors, Huxters is an integral part of their island experience. Congratulations to the Murphys for keeping us all in ‘good spirits’ with the liquor store unveiling.”
ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].
