New Signs of Life on Bolivar

The Bolivar Peninsula is slowly coming back to life, with families returning to repair their homes, and the promise of water and power to the entire peninsula in the near future.

Another sign of life, a new restaurant serving workers taking part in the hurricane recovery.

This isn't how the owners of Coconuts expected to open their business.

"We were supposed to be hiring people, putting the kitchen together, everything was right," says Reid Duplantis, the co-owner of Coconuts.

Everything was right until hurricane Ike washed away the scheduled opening date of October 1st.

But now Coconuts is helping feed anyone who comes to the Bolivar Peninsula.

"It's awesome, it's awesome. The people here have been great to us. Really appreciate what they're doing. Other than that, it's cold sandwiches and whatever you can get," says Felix Zapata, a lineman from California.

Whatever you can get today is a hot plate of spaghetti or lasagna and garlic bread.

And as word spreads, the line of relief workers lengthens.

"Pretty quickly. You see a lot of people come, light guys and all. It's a good thing though, it's nice they're doing it," says Bennie Davis, a contract worker from North Carolina.

"Word gets around as soon as there's a hot meal, everybody comes," says Zapata.

Locals are showing up too. People like Jackie, she's been cleaning her beach house all day.

"This is wonderful. They don't have to do this, it's very nice. I didn't know Red Cross was gone already, or anyone else. There's no water, nothing that I know of except these guys," says Jackie, a homeowner.

"Started small, people kept coming by, see the smoke from the smoker and say, 'hey, ya'll got something?' They drag in all afternoon," says Duplantis.

About 200 people a day come to see what they have at Coconuts, and it's all free, although donations are accepted.

"Humanitarian thing to do, I think. I think they'd do it for us," says Duplantis.

Helping workers trying to rebuild the beach communities.

"Crystal Beach lives, whether they want it to or not. It's about the people," says Jackie.

And bringing people together.

The owners hope to open the business as soon as possible.

They still have some work to do inside the building.