Local

Businesses in Jacksonville's San Marco neighborhood starting over after Hurricane Irma

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Traci Evans, owner of Meow and Barks Boutique, is trying her best to pick up the pieces.

“Anything that we had back here as far as fixtures, they are gone," Evans said.

Her shop has been headquartered in San Marco for seven years -- but the building was no match for Hurricane Irma.

“We boarded up, we put sand bags out, but there was nothing we could do to stop it,” Evans said.

Evans was in New York for fashion week when the storm hit, but the devastation that was waiting for her was unreal. Mannequins, clothing -- you name it, it was affected.

The front of the boutique looked like a river after Irma blew through. It and every business along the San Marco Boulevard strip saw high flood water.

Several business owners have joined together for "San Marco Strong," a fund set up to help local shops get back on their feet.

“I think through the power of social media and the connections of San Marco Preservation and San Marco Merchants, I think it will spread really quickly,” Jeff Burns, owner of Beer 30, said.

While construction is ongoing, Evans is still doing sales online, she has started a GoFundMe page and is also utilizing pop up shop locations at Motion Sweets on Park Street and other places.

Although Irma was tough, she's determined for it not to break her spirit.

“Our main thing is to keep business going, so we don't lose that," Evans said.