Karma Juice Bar and Eatery owner Josie Barber didn't realize it at the time, but her last-minute decision to not hunker down inside her downtown restaurant during Hurricane Milton potentially saved her life.

As Milton swept through Florida last week as a Category 3 storm, its high winds caused a tower crane at 400 Central, a 46-story luxury condo tower currently under construction in downtown St. Pete, to topple onto an office building that houses Karma Juice Bar and Eatery.

While no injuries were reported in the eight-story building, located at 490 1st Avenue South, the 500-foot-tall crane allowed rainwater to pour into the floors and set off the emergency sprinklers, causing additional damage.

“I was planning on taking shelter in Karma, specifically in the living room area by the window, which ended up getting shattered by the crane,” Barber said to St. Pete Rising. “My home, cars, and personal belongings were all destroyed during Hurricane Helene [which made landfall on the west coast of Florida as a Category 4 days before Milton arrived].”

“My daughter refused to let me stay at the restaurant and so I evacuated to Orlando to stay with her,” Barber continued. “I could've died that day.”

The storefront on the ground floor of the building is currently the only unit in the tower with electricity and WiFi but is deemed unsafe for Barber to operate in and is closed indefinitely.

“There is a construction crew going up and down the stairs trying to assess and fix the damage the crane caused,” she said.

“The workers are extremely exhausted. Although I can't make food, I made 30 coffees and 40 smoothies for them. I wanted to do what I could because we don't know when we can reopen the shop and the produce and supplies wouldn't last until then.”

The timeline for a reopening is unknown as the damage is still being assessed.

“I hope we can reopen here. I'd hate to lose this downtown spot,” Barber said.

Karma, which has multiple locations, has been a staple in St. Pete for over a decade, specializing in acai bowls, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, gourmet sandwiches, wraps, and salads.

The business was a longtime dream realized for Barber, who was raised in the Philippines and relocated to the United States at the age of 20 amidst the challenges of war and conflict overseas. 

Barber launched the health-conscious eatery in 2014 with her daughter, April Lupkey, who is expected to take the reins of the family business by January.

To support Karma, customers can visit their other St. Pete eatery at 1804 4th Street North or their Clearwater location at 2095 Drew Street.

Be sure to follow Karma on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on the future of their downtown St. Pete location.