A hole lotta liquor: Store stays open for storm

NOKOMIS — After forecasts of significant storm surge increased on Monday, Sarasota County officials called for the evacuation of Zone C residents.

Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi said some areas in Zone C may have up to 6 feet of water, or in other areas, 1 to 3 feet.

"We don't want people to be trapped in a neighborhood and they're not able to get out because there's flooding," Tapfumaneyi said.

With Hurricane Milton slowing down, its landfall is predicted to hit late Wednesday night to early Thursday morning.

Officials said those still trying to make a decision only have a few hours left to leave no later than early Wednesday.

For most of South Tamiami Trail into Osprey, Nokomis and Venice, the roads are a ghost town.

Businesses have been boarded up, houses covered with metal sheets or wooden pallets and sandbags lining the doors of hundreds of houses.

The forecasted storm surge, now 10 to 15 feet, for the western coastline from Clearwater to Fort Myers has pushed out millions of residents onto the busy roads of Interstates 4 and 75.

But not for The Liquor Hole, or its thirsty customers.

The Nokomis liquor store remained opened for its customers despite its boarded up windows and "F U Milton" message spray-painted across the wooden pallets.

Owner Sandra Pridemore said the store, located in Evacuation Zone A, isn't looking to close down anytime soon.

"We're just saying until either the weather turns bad or we're not busy yet but people keep coming in," Pridemore said.

Pridemore, who lives in Evacuation Zone A, as well, said the store did suffer about 2 feet of water damage from Hurricane Helene.

Pridemore said the business is built with concrete, its shelves covered in a plastic casing to survive storm surges like the one forecasted for Milton.

While mostly an impenetrable place, she said some things did get destroyed during Hurricane Helene.

"The only thing we had a little bit was some dry wall but we haven't even had a chance to think about," Pridemore said.

The owner is also still expecting a delivery of liquor, along with a group of regulars who buy beer from her in the afternoon.

After hearing about Hurricane Milton's delay in landfall, Pridemore got a gleam of excitement in her eye.

"Well, then maybe we will be open tomorrow," Pridemore said.