FLEMING ISLAND – Although flood waters from Doctors Inlet pushed 30 yards into the parking lot, it didn’t keep curious residents from checking out the damage a few hours after Tropical Storm Nicole pushed through Northeast Florida on Thursday, Nov. 10.

It also didn’t keep the iconic restaurant from turning customers away the next day.

Although the tiki bar was filled with so much water a kayaker was seen boating through the outside restaurant, Whitey’s was open on Friday and serving frosty beer and fresh seafood.

“We’re fortunate enough the main restaurant is built high enough that it only floods the tiki bar,” said co-owner Billy Ham. “It’s pretty routine when it comes up, then the water goes down. We pressure washer it. We designed it where all of the outlets are up high. We allow for enough time for the refrigerators to dry out. We re-stock everything and we’re ready to go.”

Workers were busy blowing debris and pressure-washing the tiki area less than an hour before Friday’s 11 a.m. opening. Ham was outside making final preparations to please the lunch crowd.

One of the onlookers Thursday afternoon was a Doctors Inlet man who was supposed to host a wedding reception at Whitey’s the next day. Guests were greeted with open arms – and a dry restaurant.

Another onlooker said the rising waters from Nicole were some of the worst he’s seen on Fleming Island in the past 35 years.

Ham said the only storm he’s seen at Whitey’s that was worse was Irma in 2017.

“This one was higher than Ian but not as high as Irma,” Ham said. “With Irma, we had about eight inches of water in the main guest area (inside the restaurant). The water never got up to the main area (with Nicole).”