Cape Fear Comeback: Savannah Inn hopes to reopen by Memorial Day

CAROLINA BEACH NC (WECT) - Thanks to Hurricane Florence, a Carolina Beach inn lost out on seven months of business, and what owners believe is more than $100,000 in revenue.

“We lost everything when Hurricane Florence came in. It ripped the roof off the inn and threw it in the pool, and we had continual rain come in which resulted in major water damage,” said Brittany Francis, manager of the inn.

Crews had to gut each of the 22 rooms due to the extensive mold and mildew, a process that’s been a bit slower than baby steps, Francis said.

“Everything has been going slowly. We have had to wait for the right permits and then insurance money,” she said.

When WECT first spoke to Francis, she and the owner thought they wouldn’t be able to open in 2019, but things are looking up.

“It’s been hard on all of us but we’ve been fighting and we are busting hard each and every day with the main goal of reopening by Memorial Day weekend,” said Francis.

Crews are now working to complete 13 of the 22 rooms by the kick off of the summer tourist season.

“We have lost more than $100,000 in revenue. We lost out on all the major holidays and we will lose spring break and Easter, so we need to get open to get a stream coming in,” said Francis.

Francis says they are starting to take reservations and hope their repeat guests and those traveling to Pleasure Island give them a look.

“For the day that we finally open, I just get excited talking about it, we just cannot wait to have these people that have become friends and family come back to us,” she said.

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