Manager Steven Follick, center right, and his team reopened The Atrium Café & Grille at 6:45 a.m. Monday on the ground floor of the Wells Fargo Center Downtown after being closed since Sept. 8 in advance of Hurricane Irma.
The storm pushed floodwaters from the St. Johns River into the basement of the 37-story tower, shutting down equipment and systems.
Tenants began returning Wednesday. Nine of the café’s 10 employees returned; food was restocked; and some customers hugged the staff.
“We’re happy to be back,” Follick said mid-morning Monday. The Atrium opened in the tower 15 years ago. Follick bought the café Sept. 30, 2016, and its first day in business was Oct. 3 – a year ago today.