When 78-year-old Charlie Hicks stopped appearing at the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, chef Donell Stallworth checked on him and found him injured and severely dehydrated. The restaurant staff brought him to the hospital, delivered his gumbo while he recovered, and helped secure and repair a new apartment next door so they could watch over him. Three months later, Hicks returned to his usual table, and the bond between him and the staff grew even stronger.
Chef Finds Missing Regular, Saves His Life — How a Pensacola Restaurant Rebuilt a Customer's Life
Pensacola, Florida — For a decade, 78-year-old Charlie Hicks was a fixture at the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola: twice a day he ordered the same thing — a cup of gumbo, light on the rice, hold the cracker. His routine was so reliable the restaurant's staff joked you could set a clock by him.
A Routine Interrupted
In September, when Hicks unexpectedly stopped showing up, Chef Donell Stallworth grew concerned. Leaving his shift, Stallworth drove to Hicks's apartment, knocked repeatedly and initially got no answer. As he was about to leave, he heard a faint call for help.
"And right when I was going to turn, I heard something, a voice, just like, 'Help,'" Stallworth recalled. "And then I opened the door up. He was laying on the ground, and I didn't know what his condition was, that was the scariest part right there."
Hicks was found severely dehydrated with two broken ribs; it may have been days before he was discovered. Because Stallworth acted, Hicks survived and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The Community Steps In
The Shrimp Basket staff rallied around their regular. They delivered his favorite gumbo to him in the hospital, helped find a new apartment next to the restaurant so employees could keep a close eye on him, and supplied new appliances and repairs to make the unit livable.
Three months after the incident, Hicks returned to the Shrimp Basket. He sat at his usual table, ordered the same meal, and reunited with the people who had helped save and rebuild his life.
"I'm glad to have you back, buddy," Stallworth said when Hicks walked in for the first time in months.
Hicks reflected on the relationship plainly: "We made a connection." Stallworth echoed the sentiment, describing Hicks as "that uncle, that grandfather, that best friend — he's all in one."
Why It Matters
This story highlights how close-knit community relationships — even those formed in a neighborhood restaurant — can make the difference between life and death. The Shrimp Basket team’s quick action and continued care gave a loyal customer not only a second chance but a renewed sense of belonging.
