Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel using wine to help rebuild store after Ian

Sunday, a historic landmark is taking steps towards rebuilding, but they are looking for help from the community too.

Bailey’s General Store in Sanibel saw devastating destruction from Hurricane Ian. But, they’re working on rebuilding and they’re using wine to help them out.

At Bailey’s General Store, 3,200 wine bottles survived Hurricane Ian, and they’re going on sale. Even though the store was damaged the wine is perfectly intact. And now Bailey’s is auctioning them off to raise money to rebuild the store.

Richard Johnson, the owner, is also planning to donate some of the money to local non-profits. Johnson said he has no doubt that Bailey’s will be back.

“There was a real concern about Wait a minute what’s going to happen to Bailey’s what’s going to happen? Well, we’re going to build a new building. But the building’s just a building. That’s not what Bailey’s is. What Bally’s is are the people, the 110 people that work here at the store with us right alongside the family,” Johnson said.