CLEARWATER, Fla. — As an adult, it can be tough to visit places that remind you of your childhood that take you back to a party after a little league game, or where you go to eat during spring break.

What You Need To Know

  • Capogna's Dugout has reopened after months of being closed following hurricane's Helene and Milton

  • The restaurant was a staple for over 50 years, but the storms knocked out power to the business and cost them thousands of dollars in spoiled food and damaged machinery

  • Following months of closure, the Capogna's is now partnered with a person who has taken over the business and has hired back many of the original staff

That’s what Al Capogna takes pride in when people visit Capogna’s Dugout.

“You start eating pizza and spaghetti here when you're 6 or 7 years old, and we've been open 50 years, so that means we've had them for 43 years, you know, and then they start bringing their kids in. And we've got third generation that's coming in,” he said.

Al’s family opened the dugout in 1973 after his father fell in love with the area while they were vacationing in Florida from Michigan.

Over the years, it has grown, but this core restaurant has been here through the ups and downs of life — serving slices and other eats people crave.

While it’s no secret running a restaurant is difficult, things were tough sledding in the aftermath of the pandemic.

But the biggest blow was this past fall with Helene and Milton.

“Lost everything,” Capogna said. “Everything. Cheese, milk, tons of cheese, chicken wings, everything.”

They didn’t have power for days. Usually they’d run a generator, but Capogna says everything on the roof was destroyed from the storm.

They lost thousands of dollars in equipment and food.

“We just sat and looked, and we all agreed. Every one of us, we just can't do this anymore,” Capogna said.

As a result, in October, they posted this message to Facebook letting people know Capogna’s would be closing permanently, saying they took a hit they couldn’t recover from.

“I thought it was it,” Capogna said. “I go, 'Our dynasty is gone.'”

But in the time they were closed, they kept receiving offers for help, but Capogna says nothing would have kept the business going long term until they met their partner, Sean Stoffel.

He took over the restaurant and didn’t change a thing, letting folks know that Capogna’s 2.0 was now in business with Al serving as an advisor.

“When this came up, you're still a little kind of going, 'Wow, is this going to be OK?' Then you start thinking about it. And boy, is it worked out good. I mean, look, it’s all the same,” Capogna said.

Al’s brother is still here to make the sauce and dough and many of the former staff have come back.

Al is grateful his family dynasty can continue, especially for all those families that have shared so many childhood memories in these booths.

Capogna is now working elsewhere but still lends a helping hand whenever needed, as do other members of his family who are so excited the dugout is back in business.