Merchants say clouds help on Labor Day weekend

Written by Ann Richardson Wednesday, September 05, 2012 02:09 pm

Beachgoers soak in the sun Labor Day weekend in Ocean City Friday, Aug. 31.

OCEAN CITY — It wasn’t the greatest Labor Day weekend on record, but after Hurricane Irene last year, it looked pretty good. Even cloudy skies and escalating gas prices couldn’t keep people away from the seashore. 

“The town was packed,” said Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. “It was perfect boardwalk weather; you could still enjoy the beach, but it was cool enough to spend the afternoon on the boardwalk or the downtown.”

Business on Asbury Avenue and the boardwalk, she said, was “brisk.”

“Last year, we had the hurricane, the week leading up to Labor Day, and that was a whole week with nothing in people’s cash registers, and it really hurt,” Gillian said.

Some would-be visitors called it a season and skipped Labor Day at the shore altogether. Fortunately, she said, this year was different.

“People were here and they were really enjoying the holiday,” she said.

John Stauffer, owner of Johnson’s Popcorn, said the cool, cloudy weather was welcome.

“It was wonderful,” he said. “There were a lot of people on the boardwalk, we did very well.”

Stauffer said last August was affected by Hurricane Irene; it was the first time since 1975 that July outpaced August. “We lost a whole week.”

“It was a little hot in the beginning of the summer for us,” he said, adding that people buy more popcorn when it’s cool. “We’ve had a good summer, it all worked out.”

Jon Talese, of Jon and Patty’s Café on Asbury Avenue, said the weekend was spectacular.

“It was great, better than last year,” he said. “Asbury Avenue was busy all weekend. A cloudy day helps the downtown, they’re not on the beach, so they go shopping and out to eat, they drink coffee.

“We had a great year, our business has grown, our menu has expanded, it’s been good,” he said.

Holly Kisby, general manager of Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy on the boardwalk said, “We had a great weekend.”

“We sold a lot of different things,” she said, adding that a lot of people were taking gifts home for friends, family and teachers. “Or someone who watched their dog while they were on vacation; it seemed like everyone was buying gifts, plus some things for themselves.

“Last year, we were really hurt by that hurricane, this year was great,” she said. “It was a nice end to the summer. Unfortunately for those who wanted a lot of sunshine, it was not a perfect weekend, but no one was complaining. People were happy and having fun. It worked out really good for us.”

Dave Cates, owner of Piccini Restaurant, said he had “an incredible Labor Day weekend.”

“We had a very strong season,” he said. “We had good help and that made a difference. It was a pleasant surprise all around.”

Cates said the hurricane last year did not hurt his bottom line.

“We were actually busier, business was up a lot,” he said, adding that his wife’s retail shop, Sun Seeker’s on Asbury Avenue, experienced the typical downturn. “I think a lot of second homeowners came down to check their properties, we were busy. A lot of people left and didn’t come back, but it didn’t hurt us. We were up again this year. I’m thrilled, all in all it was a very good season.”

Business was brisk despite what AAA described as the highest gas prices ever on Labor Day. Cape May County Director of Tourism Diane Wieland said people “let loose a little.”

“I called around, and everyone was pretty busy,” she said. “There was a lot of traffic leaving on Monday, business was steady and they were spending. There were a lot of concerns that people were not spending, they held on a little during the summer, but this weekend they decided to have that one last summer fling. The boardwalks were packed.”

“Cloudy weather gets them off the beach, so we don’t mind a cloudy day, we don’t like rain,” she said. “Cloudy means they’re looking for things to do.”

Thick clouds and a chilly breeze did not stop the extended Harron and Piasecki families from enjoying the beach at Morningside Road on Monday.

Wendy Harron helped her young cousins build a sand castle; when construction was complete she joined Matt, Elizabeth, Tim and Hannah Piasecki for a romp in the surf.

“We love to be here,” said Wendy Harron, an occupational therapist from Delaware County, Pa. “We come down as much as we can.”

Meanwhile, her husband, Bill Harron, Sue and Steve Piasecki and Steve’s mother Betsy Piasecki relaxed and watched the fun.

“Ocean City is my favorite place in the whole world,” said Betsy Piasecki, who lives in Lancaster, Pa. “I’ve lived in Florida; Ocean City is still my favorite place. I love everything about it.”

Betsy Piasecki said nostalgia lures her back every summer. She vacationed on the island as a child.

“I would walk on the boardwalk with my grandfather when I was little,” she said. “Every day we would get orange juice from Litterer’s. Ocean City is happy memories, it’s in my heart.”

It’s in Sue and Steve Piasecki’s heart, too. Bill Harron is Sue Piasecki’s cousin. His grandmother owns a home on the island, and so do Wendy Harron’s mother and step-father, Bob and Corrie Evans.

“We all have Ocean City ties. It’s become the family vacation spot,” Steve Piasecki. said

A day at the beach requires some necessities, but Bill and Wendy even bring a table.

“It’s all about relaxing on the beach,” Bill Harron said.

“We love the ocean, love to be together, having fun,” Wendy Harron said. “We’re going to have Thanksgiving in Ocean City this year. We had the big Evans family vacation here this summer; it’s a lot of fun. We come down with church groups. We’re here as often as possible. We wouldn’t miss Labor Day weekend.”

Beachgoers soak in the sun Labor Day weekend in Ocean City Friday, Aug. 31.

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