PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Committed customers rolled up their sleeves Sunday morning to take down the walls of Fishin Franks Bait and Tackle. The owner, Frank Hommema, a.k.a Fishin Frank said it’s an effort to preserve the wood to re-install it into a new shop.
“It also gives them a chance to say goodbye,” he said.
Regular customers like Jude Panetta jumped at the opportunity to help a neighborhood staple.
“When you see, you know, 100 people show up to help, that’s a testament to the man. That’s all,” he said.
If Hommema opens a new shop, he plans to do it with the iconic wood customers are used to.
“People are going to be able to come when we get the new shop. And they’re going to see the stuff that they knew and remembered,” he said.
As of tonight, he doesn’t know when where or if that will happen. But he’s staying optimistic.
On top of being a neighborhood staple, Panetta said Fishin Frank helped people out in their time of need. both inside and outside of the shop.
“He does so much for charity, and I don’t think that’s what people realize. He doesn’t just run a store,” said Panetta.
Hommema added he overlooked the cost of things when people were short on cash.
“The crazy part is, because of the way that I ran it, I don’t have the money to rebuild it,” he said.
He said donors have offered to buy him a new building. but he wants to be able to purchase it on his own. Depending on banks and insurance money, he said there’s an 80 percent chance that he’ll rebuild Fishin Franks.
