Anna Maria Island business, one of many struggling post-hurricanes, to close
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — An Anna Maria Island business is closing its doors for good next month after experiencing its worst year.
The Cheesecake Cutie & Café says sales are down 50% this year, and that it’s been a struggle to recover from last year’s hurricanes — and the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce says they aren’t alone.
What You Need To Know
The Cheesecake Cutie & Café plans to close its doors on Dec. 18
The island's Chamber of Commerce says they aren’t alone; other businesses are still struggling to recover after 2024 storm season
Jennifer Geils opened the cafe in 2020 but says business has declined
Making desserts for others is a treat for Jennifer Geils. She says it’s a passion that has been passed down for generations.
“So the cheesecake is my mom’s recipe. It’s been in our family for 40 years, so I grew up watching her make this,” she said.
Geils opened The Cheesecake Cutie & Café in Holmes Beach in 2020.
“I am Italian, and food has always been the place for people to gather and just be happy,” she explained.
She shares her happiness with others who love sweets.
But soon, moments like this will end. Geils decided to close the store when her lease expires in December.
“It’s been a struggle financially for the last year,” she said.
This year, she says her sales are she believes the decline is related to last year’s hurricanes.
She faced financial losses after Milton — the store lost power, leading to wasted food. But it’s the aftermath of last year’s storms that her business could not recover from.
“I think the island people have been afraid to come, and so all their vacations were rebooked,” she said.
The Cheesecake Cutie & Café is not the only business struggling. The Chamber of Commerce says other businesses are also still in the recovery process.
“It has been a little slower this year than it typically is. I think that visitors are waiting to see for us to get all the way through this hurricane season,” Geils said.
While this chapter of her life is closing, she has plans for her future — including a move to Alabama.
“We are hoping to do something up there with a different name completely. We’re still working on that, but, yeah. So it’s a new adventure,” she explained.
It will be a new beginning, but with the same recipes and love for sweets as before.
The last day for The Cheesecake Cutie & Café will be Dec. 18. The café is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
