SEVEN MILE BEACH — Local businesses here cited weather as a major factor affecting 2009 summer season business. When asked to grade summer business on a grade scale of A through F, they gave mixed responses.
Stone Harbor Finance Director James Nicola provided figures through August for parking meters, beach tags and the borough’s Arts and Crafts show.
Parking meters generated $192,257 in revenue through August, compared to $193,379 in 2008. Beach tags brought in $642,770, compared to $623,093 in 2008. Arts and Crafts Show brought in $96,600, compared to $96,650 in 2008, Nicola said.
Recreation revenues for 2009 are about the same as last year, he said, noting, “It’s a tough comparison because of new programs, weather, etc.”
Stone Harbor Pizza on 96th Street gave the summer a ‘B+.’
“Everyone was expecting it to be pretty dull but we did better than we thought we would,” manager Andrew Magee said.
Pudgie Pelican Café on Dune Drive in Avalon gave the season a ‘B-.’
“It was definitely a trying season. It didn’t go as smoothly and we had to keep on top of things more than ever,” owner Ron Griffin said. “There were less foreign workers and I was fortunate enough to find some good employee help.”
He said business was about the same as 2008 and August was better than July.
Hoys 5 & 10 on 96th Street gave the summer season a ‘D.’
“Between the three weeks of rain in June and Labor Day coming a week later, sales weren’t as great as expected,” manager Patrick Antona said. “It was an odd-ball summer.” He said the weather was more of a factor than the economy and sales peaked around Fourth of July weekend.
Some establishments declined to comment on record but expressed similar sentiments.
Tortilla Flats on Dune Drive in Avalon gave the season a ‘C.’
“This was the slowest season we’ve ever had in the 25 years we’ve been open,” owner Linda Schwartz said. She added that the last three weeks of August were very busy but overall the season was “very disappointing.”
Schwartz said families were her biggest patrons this year.
“We had a lot of large parties with many children, which were likely two families staying together to save money. I believe the drop was weather-related with all the rain in June and July,” she said. “Most people waited until it was hot to come and the economy was a factor because people weren’t eating out. Supermarkets probably did well.”
“Visitors were very careful with their money and probably cut their spending in half. We usually have a lot of repeat business, but seems we were down compared to last year,” Schwartz said. “We hope for some strong September weekends.”
“People are still buying lovely things for others and seem to have more restraint in pur-chasing for themselves,” At Home Interiors owner Dede Harris said.
During evening strolls, people were seen carrying Fudge Kitchen bags and there contin-ued to be a line at Springer’s Ice Cream and Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, Harris said.
Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce President Councilman Karl Giulian said members indicated that traffic was down and the season got off to a late start.
“The shopkeepers seemed to have indicated that they were expecting the summer to be terrible. It was not as bad as they had thought and planned. They did not indicate, however, that is was great,” he said.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
