Pensacola, Florida — At the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, one customer had become part of the furniture. For a decade, 78-year-old Charlie Hicks ordered the same thing twice a day: a cup of gumbo, light on the rice and no cracker, once for lunch and again for dinner.
The restaurant’s chef, Donell Stallworth, said Hicks was so reliable you could set a clock by him. In September that routine abruptly stopped and Hicks failed to show up for several days. Concerned, Stallworth left mid-shift and drove to Hicks’s apartment. After knocking and getting no answer, Stallworth was about to leave when he heard someone call for help. Inside, he found Hicks on the floor, severely dehydrated and suffering from two broken ribs. It was unclear how long Hicks had been there.
Stallworth’s quick action brought medical help and very likely saved Hicks’s life. The Shrimp Basket staff then rallied around him: they brought his gumbo to the hospital, helped him move into a new apartment next to the restaurant so employees could keep an eye on him, and pitched in to provide appliances and make repairs.
Three months after the ordeal, Hicks returned to the Shrimp Basket and slipped back into his familiar routine, taking his usual table and ordering his favorite dish. Stallworth greeted him warmly, and Hicks reflected on the bond he’d formed with the staff. Stallworth said having Hicks nearby is the best possible situation, describing him as a fixture who fills the roles of uncle, grandfather and friend all at once.