The cleanup in Volusia County has officially started for residents and businesses that found themselves in the path of Hurricane Nicole.

James Brogno said Carmine’s Beachside Pizzeria was devastated by Hurricane Ian, and despite preparations ahead of Nicole, damage from the storm has set them back.

“It’s back to square one of cleaning up,” he said with a sigh.

Brogno is the primary investor in the restaurant and said he could never have imagined being in this type of challenging position.

Plywood boards in place of the broken windows were no match for the strong winds from Nicole, he said. 

This is the second time in two months that he’s been forced to assess the damage left behind on his dream.

“Reliving it all over again," Brogno said. "Eight weeks, six weeks, seven weeks later."

Ian wreaked havoc on Carmine’s and the plaza where it is located.

Brogno said Nicole followed that up and made an already difficult situation even worse.

Brogno said he and the business owner worked for two and a half years to get the location up and running.

“But we’re survivors,” he said.

Now, Brogno says he’s in a position where he doesn’t know what’s next.

He said he has tried selling equipment that survived the storms, but hasn’t had any luck finding a potential buyer.

“I can’t handle any more, mentally or physically," he said. "I’m not the same person I was when we were open or building this place out."

Brogno says he felt close to salvaging what was damaged after the last storm, but walking into the restaurant after Nicole felt like a gut punch.

While he’s trying to keep his spirits high, he said this current feeling will be hard to shake.

“I’m lost for words," Brogno said. "And that’s usually not who I am."