Grand Haven restaurant Smokey Jose’s hosts fundraiser for Texas flood victims

The newest restaurant to open in Grand Haven recently donated its profits to help victims of deadly floods that occurred in Texas earlier this month.

Grand Haven restaurant Smokey Jose’s hosts fundraiser for Texas flood victims
Smokey Jose’s formerly operated on Mackinac Island and relocated to Grand Haven in June. [ONN photo/Sarah Leach]

GRAND HAVEN — The newest restaurant to open in Grand Haven recently donated its profits to help victims of deadly floods that occurred in Texas earlier this month.

Smokey Jose’s pledged 100% of proceeds during a four-hour period to United for Kerr County, a fund established to offer long-term support to individuals and families impacted by the flash flood that swept through the Hill Country of Texas in the early morning hours of July 4 that left 138 dead, including 27 from a Christian summer camp for schoolgirls near the Guadalupe River. 

Between 4-8 p.m. Sunday, July 20, the barbecue, taco and tequila joint raised $2,803.11 from community members. Smokey Jose’s owners announced they contributed to the fund, bringing the donation total to $5,000.

Owners Jack and Terrie Armstrong were prompted to hold the fundraiser because they have a personal connection to victims of the flood. Jack Armstrong said the couple have a family member whose friend lost two of his granddaughters in the tragedy.

“(Fundraising) was the right thing to do,” said Armstrong. “It was a good cause and I wanted to have the participation of the community.”

Armstrong said a few customers gave extra cash to the fund, included in the total proceeds. He added the fundraiser was a great experience for the restaurant and that community members were incredibly gracious. Numerous people from Texas also visited the restaurant, expressing their thankfulness for the fundraiser.

“The people of Grand Haven are really great,” Armstrong said. “We’ve had, surprisingly enough, a number of people from Texas that were in the area and came because of (the fundraiser). They thanked us, and said (people in Texas) are really suffering and hurting) down there.”

The flash floods occurred over the July Fourth weekend and killed at least 134 people. The all-girls Christian summer camp along Kerr County’s Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic, lost at least 27 campers and counselors to the flood.


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Smokey Jose’s formerly operated on Mackinac Island and relocated to Grand Haven in June. Armstrong said the restaurant donated to numerous charities at their past location. The Armstrongs have hosted fundraisers for groups such as local police and firefighters. He added Smokey Jose’s is looking to hold similar fundraisers in Grand Haven.

“We would host different things all the time (and) we’ll be doing that again in Grand Haven when the season winds down,” Armstrong said.

— Contact ONN reporter Hailey Hentz at hhentz@ottawanewsnetwork.org.