ST. PETE BEACH (FLA.) — Many Tampa Bay businesses have struggled to rebuild after last year’s hurricanes, but that wasn’t their only obstacle.

Along Corey Avenue, business owners said the impact has been two-fold.

Nearby homes were flooded, and many are now up for sale. With some hotels still shut down, tourists are few and far between.

At Chill Restaurant & Bar in St. Pete Beach, owner Ken Hautmann said business hasn’t been the same since last year’s devastating hurricane season.

“We definitely are not seeing the traffic that we did before the storm,” Hautmann said.

Chill Restaurant and other businesses along Corey Avenue flooded during Hurricane Helene.

While most of the businesses are now back open, Hautmann said sales have dried up, partly because nearby hotels are still closed.

“A big part of it, getting them to be reopened is going to be huge, and then getting the word out again,” Hautmann said.

Across the street at Elizabeth’s BARtique, most of the inventory was destroyed during Helene.

Owner Elizabeth Nowak made the difficult decision not to reopen her wine cafe that was next door, and now she also worries because of struggling sales.

“Our local customers, which is our usual, are always during the summer is the people that always support us, but they are not here,” Nowak said. “They’re still not in their houses as well.”

A few miles away at St. John’s Pass in Madiera Beach, Captain Dylan Hubbard said business at Hubbard’s Marina has rebounded.

“It was obviously a little bit of a tough October, November, December, but as things started to gain momentum, I mean we had a red snapper season extension. That was unexpected, that really helped, and we started running busy trips,” said Captain Hubbard.

But now in their slow season, these business owners are making a plea to the local community.

“Please come over the bridge. Don’t forget about us,” said Hautmann.

“We are so grateful for all the customers who are coming, but we unfortunately need some more,” Nowak said.

According to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, tourism is up in areas like Clearwater, Clearwater Beach and St. Petersburg, compared to last year. However, the data shows tourism is still recovering in areas like the southern beaches.