Cedar Key: The Women Who Brought It Back

Cedar Key, Florida has been coming back from the storms. But the recovery story on this island is not just about what was lost. It is about who chose to stay, who chose to invest, and who chose to open a business on a street that was still under construction. In this episode, Abby and I stay in the Eliza apartment on the second floor of the historic Lutterloh Building at 497 2nd Street, restored by realtors Caryn Stephenson and Mendy Allen as part of the Carmen Project, a two million dollar commitment to saving Cedar Key’s historic downtown before anyone was paying attention. The apartments upstairs are named after real women from Cedar Key’s history. The stories behind those names are worth the episode on their own. We walk Dock Street, where new businesses including Jaybirds Chicken, Dock Street Dips, and Sip and Sea Wine Bar are open and ready for visitors while the waterfront end finishes its rebuild. We shop at Main Street Mercantile and the showstopping For Shore boutique next door in Cedar Key’s oldest brick building. And we drive past the property on State Road 24 that Abby and I fell in love with six years ago, now reborn under new ownership as Old Florida Fish Camp. Cedar Key is not finished. It is not pretending to be. But it is open, it is moving, and the people who chose to bet on it are glad you came. This is Part Two of our Cedar Key series. Watch Part One first if you haven’t already.🌎 Keep Gallivanting With Me If you liked this story, you’ll love what’s waiting on my YouTube channel: youtube.com/@ChadGallivanter See more photos, behind-the-scenes, and upcoming trips on Instagram: instagram.com/ChadGallivanter More travel stories, history deep-dives, and extras live at: ChadGallivanter.com📬 Questions, ideas, or media requests? Email me at [email protected]