Downpour of heavy rains flooded Bradenton roads and a restaurant with customers inside

The Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet on First Street remained closed Monday for cleanup after heavy rains Sunday flooded the restaurant and roads around Bradenton.

“All the water was pouring in from the street. We will probably reopen on Tuesday. We’ll see what happens,” manager Wen Ren said Monday.

The rainwater poured from First Street toward Hibachi Grill so fast and powerfully that it lifted a manhole cover off a storm water drain along the street.

The 400-seat, 12,000-square-foot Hibachi Grill opened in 2011. It is across the street from the now closed DeSoto Square mall. Mall parking throughout its history was susceptible to flooding during heavy rains.

Between 2 and 4 inches of rain fell Sunday on the Bradenton area, depending on the location, said Paul Close, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

Photos and videos of flooded streets and stuck vehicles were posted on social media, including one customer who said she was temporarily trapped in the restaurant by the rising water.

The heaviest rains were west of Interstate 75 between Bayshore Gardens and downtown Bradenton, Close said.

Randy Warren, a spokesman for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, which is just northwest of the Hibachi Grill, said there were no issues with flooding at his offices on Sunday.

Jacob Saur, Manatee County director of public safety, also said he had received no reports of flooding.

“That’s not to say no flooding occurred,” Saur said in a text.

Monday’s National Weather Service forecast for the Bradenton area calls for scattered showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Monday night, showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly before midnight.

Chance of precipitation is 70% with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.