A Man’s Best Savior: The Owner of his Favorite Restaurant

Sometimes, sticking with the same favorite restaurant for many years proves extremely helpful. In the case of 78-year-old Air Force veteran Charlie Hicks, his consistency at The Shrimp Basket actually saved his life.

Every day for a decade, Charlie Hicks drives his old truck to the local southern-style restaurant, The Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, Florida. He often enjoys a lunch or dinner meal consisting of gumbo with a small side of rice and no crackers. He calls it "convenient" with everything he could want there, so it naturally became a part of his routine.

Eventually, as time moved on, he developed a close friendship with one of the chefs, Donell Stallworth. At Charlie’s age, he rarely goes out with friends or engages in new friendships, so having a daily chat with the chef satisfies him greatly. Donnell also appreciates Charlie’s company, as he appreciates his insights and finds his stories incredibly intriguing.

That is why, when Charlie was sick in early September, the team at The Shrimp Basket was more than happy to deliver his daily gumbo. Donnell, in particular, was the one to drop the gumbo off outside the door.

However, only a few days later, on September 11, Charlie fell and could not stand up. For any older person, this situation Charlie found himself in was troublesome. He had no way of standing back up, and three hours later, he still found himself on the ground. Thankfully, Donell realized Charlie did not show up for his daily gumbo, even as Charlie’s immune health had improved. So, instead of waiting around, Donell decided to drive to Charlie’s place to check up on him.

When Donell arrived, he knocked twice before he heard a faint wail for help. That is when he banged open the door and found his customer stranded on the floor. Donnell reacted quickly, and an hour later, Charlie was transported to the hospital for two broken ribs and severe dehydration. Then, just a week later, Charlie was back in the real world and back to his favorite gumbo restaurant.

Shortly after, Charlie decided, with the help of some of the restaurant employees, to move closer to the restaurant. Now, he presides only a few minutes from his favorite place and has made significant health improvements. Without Donell’s assistance, Charlie does not know what would have happened, and he is forever grateful for the support his dear friend provided.