When you discover a restaurant that truly resonates with you, it’s not uncommon to become a frequent visitor.
This was the case for Charlie Hicks after he stumbled upon the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, Florida. The 78-year-old became so fond of the seafood restaurant that he has been dining there twice a day for the past ten years. His lunchtime routine consists of ordering gumbo — with minimal rice and no crackers. He sticks to the same order for his evening meal.
“Mr. Hicks don’t miss no days,” shared Donnell Stallworth, one of the chefs at the Shrimp Basket, with CBS News. “We open the doors up, Mr. Hicks is there to greet us.”
Given Charlie’s consistent dining schedule over the last decade, staff members noticed something was wrong when he didn’t appear at the restaurant for several consecutive days in September 2025.
Initially, when he didn’t show up, the restaurant’s employees reached out to Charlie at his residence. He answered, explaining that he was unwell. A staff member then delivered his meal to his doorstep, as Charlie wished to avoid the risk of spreading his illness. On the third day, their call went unanswered, raising concern.
Realizing something was seriously wrong, Chef Donnell interrupted his work and drove to Charlie’s apartment. Upon arriving and knocking, there was no response.
“Right when I was going to turn [away], I heard something, a voice, just like, ‘Help,'” said the 45-year-old Donnell. “And then I opened the door up. He was lying on the ground, and I didn’t know what his condition was; that was the scariest part right there.”
The duration of time Charlie had been incapacitated was unclear, but he was found with two broken ribs and severe dehydration.
Determined not to leave their loyal customer alone, the staff ensured Charlie received his regular meals at the hospital during his recovery, maintaining his beloved gumbo routine.
Following Charlie’s release from the hospital, the team went above and beyond by assisting him in finding a new apartment conveniently located next to the Shrimp Basket, allowing them to watch over him.
“[Charlie] said that Donell had saved his life. And I’m pretty sure that Donell and [the Shrimp Basket staff] saved his life,” recalled Charlie’s niece, Christina Neeper, to the Pensacola News Journal. “Donell has been texting him and visiting him. Apparently, they’re best friends.”
By December 2025, Charlie had resumed his regular visits to the Shrimp Basket. Donnell expressed his happiness to see his ‘buddy’ back at the restaurant, with their friendship having grown stronger due to the ordeal.
“We made a connection,” Charlie told CBS News. “We made a connection.”
“He’s that uncle. He’s that grandfather. He’s that best friend,” Donnell added. “He’s all in one.”