How you can help the nearly 150-year-old deli, Hildebrandt’s re-open after Helene

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A local deli that’s been in Augusta for nearly 150 years needs your support after being closed by Hurricane Helene.

Hildebrant’s Part German, Part South deli started out at a grocery store, but now they are looking for groceries to stock the restaurant after Helene forced power outages throughout the area.

“Closed up the day before, thinking it was gonna be over in two days,” Storeowner Luanne Hildebrandt said.

Luanne Hildebrandt owns the longtime family deli and says while the storm spoiled her goods, it refreshed the meaning of “neighbor.”

“The fact that I had lived downtown for several years and hadn’t really met anybody on the street– I knew where some people were but hadn’t ventured out because working six days a week. Yeah, you just– be in my little cubby hole.”

Hildebrandt explains how she needed help to clear things because she couldn’t do it all on her own.

“Neighbors, people from Ellis Street, all came together on Saturday and went to work like little busy bees, yeah– let me sit there for a while.”

Bria: “So, they were pretty much cleaning out the refrigerator for all the things?”

“Cleaning out the refrigerator, that’s right,” Hildebrandt said.

As the great granddaughter of the original owner, Luanne says she is happy to be rooted in Augusta for so many years and plans on keeping it that way.

“Over the years it’s been a corner grocery store, and I’ve been back there almost 50 years, and just I thought I could run a grocery store, but it didn’t happen. So, about 12 years ago we started just doing sandwiches– I mean just the lunch traffic…”

Hildebrant’s does hope to open up shop next week with the support and donations of the public. If you’d like to donate anything, contact Luanneofaugusta@gmail.com

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