Love’s Seafood to celebrate 75 years Sunday at grand reopening after flood

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Love's Seafood and Steak is back open after flood water destroyed much of the family-owned restaurant in August after Tropical Storm Debby.

This weekend is very special for the Love's Seafood family. Not only is their grand reopening from the flooding this Sunday, Nov. 17, but it's also the restaurant's 75th anniversary.

Love's sits right on the Ogeechee River and while it makes for a beautiful view, the river rises quite often. This week, the river level made its way onto the back lawn but is receding as of Thursday.

The Love family said they have a new fear after Debby, which Owner Debby Love said was a nightmare.

Love said she and her husband, Fulton, had no idea how bad Debby was going to be until there was standing water, two-feet in some spots, inside their family-owned restaurant.

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Flood waters raising into the yard is a normal thing at Love's since it sits right on the Ogeechee River, but it's had never come into the building until Debby. Following Debby, the water reached the tops of the chairs, and you can see the watermark in their lower dining area.

They had to replace flooring, drywall and supplies. They said the repairs cost them about $300,000, but with much needed and appreciated help from their team and the community, they were able to get it done in just three months.

"There were so many that came out and said, you know, we have a pressure washing company come for some pressure washer," Love said. "We have just so much support from the community, and neighbors and friends offered anything that they could come and do."

Love said that family, friends, and faith got her through it.

"We prayed. Yeah. I think a lot of praying got us through it," Love said. "We're going to be here. What's that saying? If the lord is willing, and this creek doesn't rise."