Siesta Key Oyster bar turns dollar-bill tradition into lifeline for employees after Hurricane Milton

SIESTA KEY, Fla. (WWSB) - When Hurricane Milton devastated parts of the Suncoast in October 2024, Siesta Key Oyster Bar faced major flooding and a 15-day closure. But as the restaurant worked to recover, its employees were also facing financial uncertainty.The restaurant found a way to help: turning the dollars collected on its walls and ceiling into financial support for the people who needed it most.The tradition of hanging dollar bills at Siesta Key Oyster Bar dates back to 2003. What began as a promise to fishermen that they would have something to come back to if they returned empty-handed has grown into a collection of memories and stories shared by visitors from around the world.“It just developed into memories and stories from everyone that comes to visit here from all over the world,” said Samantha Lemmer, the restaurant’s general manager.But in 2024, Lemmer watched as floodwaters surged into the restaurant, carrying away belongings and submerging the building.“Seeing the surg