Since the April 20th Deepwater Horizon Oil spill, many restaurants along the coast, have continued to see a steady decline in income.
Bob Saker – owner of The HUT Restaurant in Eastpoint, Florida says, “We have a lot of uncertainty now.”
Bob and Lucille Saker are the owners of The HUT Restaurant in Eastpoint. They say their restaurant numbers are down about 20 percent from this time last year and it’s time to make some changes for the better.
Lucille Saker says, “I think we’re at the point now where we probably do need to file a claim with BP.”
The Hut isn’t the only restaurant along the coast suffering from a rough economy and the painful effects of the oil spill.
Renee Griffin, who works as manager of Captain Snooks Restaurant in Eastpoint says, “Everybody’s having to make short cuts and we’re all trying to tighten our belts and hold down.”
Faithful customers like Steven Atkins is what brings a smile to the faces of any restaurant owner.
Atkins says, “I’m always an active supporter. I come here regularly. They have good food and I like being here.”
Bob and Lucille Saker say even though times have been rough, they have not and will not give up.
Bob Saker says, “We’ll go down fighting to the end if things get that way, but I think things are going to improve.”
Lucille Saker says, “Times are hard, it’s a little slow, but we’re hanging in there and we will be here hopefully for years to come.”
The owners of many restaurants are currently in the process of filing BP claims for compensation for their loss of business due to the oil spill.
See video here: http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Coastal_Restaurant_Owners_Continues_to_Struggle_From_Effects_of_the_Oil_Spill__112901269.html
