When Alina Cosman purchased HipNotique Boutique on Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda, she didn’t realize she would embark on the wildest ride of her life.

She bought the boutique from her friend, Debi Malinoski, just before Hurricane Ian caused substantial wind damage throughout Southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2022.

After Cosman restored her boutique and reopened following the Category 4 hurricane, normalcy was relatively short-lived. Almost two years later, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Cedar Key on Sept. 26, bringing a storm surge of up to 8 feet to Punta Gorda.

Cosman used a stockpile of plywood to cover the doors and windows of HipNotique, but the plywood couldn’t hold back the water.

“I lost about 95% of my stock,” said Cosman, who was cleaning her boutique with fiance Jason Covell on Sept. 30.

The usually crowded clothing racks were gone, but some merchandise remained undamaged from floodwaters.

Cosman pointed to a brick wall that showed how high the water rose. The force of the surge knocked over a glass display case, and photos taken by Cosman after the water receded showed clothing and shoes strewn about.

Nontheless Cosman remained positive, saying she is moving forward and planning to participate in the downtown Boutique Crawl shopping event from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 that was scheduled before Hurricane Helene.

Two doors down from HipNotique is the Sugar Chic Boutique. Owner Tiffany Payne, who moved into her new location in December after leasing space at other sites in town, founded the Boutique Crawl in 2023.

“It was supposed to be a one-time event,” she said. But because of the themed event’s popularity, it takes place quarterly.

Friday’s event will be the Boos and Boozy Boutique Crawl, and attendees are encouraged to wear costumes, as prizes for the best ones will be given out.

“Normally, about six to seven boutiques and two restaurants participate,” Payne said. “This year, we decided to change it up to ‘Downtown Rebuild and Restore,’ where all businesses are invited to participate beside boutiques and restaurants.”

If an owner’s businesses suffered damage, they can set up a booth in front of their shop or office. Payne said her own boutique took on more than 3 feet of floodwater and 75% of the store was damaged.

She said participating store owners and businesses will “discount everything” Oct. 4.