The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated three post-hurricane business reopenings with ribbon-cutting celebrations: Sea Oats Day Spa and Royal Shell on Jan 10 on Sanibel, and C a p t i v a C r u i s e s o n J a n 1 2 o n Captiva

“We could all use a massage and a relaxing day on the water right now,” c h a m b e r P r e s i d e n t a n d C h i e f Executive Officer John Lai said “We welcome these opportunities back to t h e i s l a n d b u s i n e s s l a n d s c a p e . Congratulations and thanks to all involved ”

Owner Logan Tennant had opened Sea Oats Day Spa on Aug 25 with seven other staffers, about a month before Hurricane Ian slammed the islands Fortunately, the spa's elevated venue left it mostly high and dry Tennant, who has worked as a massage therapist and nail technician and esthetician on Sanibel for nearly 14 years, was offering massage and nail services to island clientele by Nov 22

“I want Sea Oats to be a big part of the community,” she said “I thought hopefully it would bring some normalcy back to the people who were here, that it would help heal the island ”

Tennant credits the positivity of the community and help from the chamber for giving her the motivation and confidence to reopen her first business, which offers eco-friendly treatments. She said she is planning to organize shopping, lunch, and spa days to support other island businesses

“We wish Logan all the luck in the world and thank her for the positivity she brings to recovery efforts,” Lai said “Her enthusiasm is infectious ”

Royal Shell, which celebrated its Captiva office reopening in December, was waiting for power to be restored to the Sanibel office for its ribbon cutting

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“Royal Shell has been helping out islanders on both Sanibel and Captiva since the causeway opened, and we’re happy to make their Sanibel reopening official,” Lai said

Captiva Cruises opened last month with limited tours for islanders, pass-holders and guests at the 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa With the Sanibel Causeway fully open, operations have expanded using two boats it moved inland before the storm The 49-passenger power