By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Sea Isle City officials and business owners had hoped to carry over the momentum from last year’s blockbuster summer season into 2020.
Then the coronavirus pandemic struck.
Yet, despite the hardships of the COVID-19 outbreak, some sectors of the local economy actually performed well this summer, including rental properties, liquor sales and some takeout restaurants, according to business representatives.
“Everyone thought it was going to be the worst year ever. But certain businesses excelled,” said Amy Lombardo, a sales associate at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtors office in Sea Isle.
Lombardo said rental properties handled by BHHS are simply “off the chart.” She noted that some vacationers have already booked their summer rentals for 2021, while other people are extending their stays at the shore this fall.
“Rentals are crazy,” she said. “We’re booked for October and next year’s rentals are off the chart (for summer).”
Sea Isle’s wide beaches provided a haven for people who wanted to safely social distance during the pandemic, in addition to savoring the shore for their vacations, city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
Beach tag sales for the 2020 summer season nearly reached the same level of revenue as in 2019, a banner year for tourism. Through Labor Day weekend, beach tag revenue totaled $1,345,800, compared to $1,378,580 last year, representing only a 2 percent decline, according to figures released by the city.
Year after year, beach tag sales are a key indicator of the strength of the summer tourism season. Normally, the weather is the dominant factor that affects beach tag sales, but this summer the coronavirus pandemic was the wild card.
Local businessman and developer Christopher Glancey said that a number of private businesses had a successful summer season serving the vacationers after the coronavirus restrictions were lifted.
“People still wanted to get away to the beach for their vacations and to feel safe,” said Glancey, the former president of the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization.
Sales were brisk at Glancey’s Diamonds Liquor store in downtown Sea Isle. He also had strong bookings at his Shorebreak Resorts, a company that rents upscale condominiums in Sea Isle, he said.
Echoing Lombardo’s comments, Glancey pointed out that Sea Isle’s home rentals were also in high demand during the summer – apparently because people wanted to head to the shore to escape the coronavirus outbreak in the major cities.
“The house rentals did well,” he said. “People came for their vacations and knew they could self-quarantine in their houses and condos. People often stayed separated from others.”
Some of the takeout restaurants were able to capitalize on the renters’ desire to stay at home during their vacation, Glancey said.
Mike’s Seafood & Dock Restaurant, a landmark Sea Isle eatery in the historic Fish Alley neighborhood, enjoyed strong business with both its takeout operations and the outside dining on its lagoon-front dock, owner Mike Monichetti said.
“The Dock Restaurant was as popular as ever and will remain open through October,” he said. “We’re still going strong and will be open in October because we’re still very busy.”
Monichetti credited his loyal, longtime employees for helping him to run the takeout and restaurant operations. He also said they were critical in helping him to “navigate through the frustrations of the pandemic.”
“It was a very, very busy summer, but it was also a very challenging summer in dealing with all of the COVID restrictions,” he said.
After banning indoor dining in March to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy allowed New Jersey restaurants to open their doors again in September at 25 percent capacity and with other safety protocols in place.
The governor originally announced that indoor dining could resume during the Fourth of July weekend, but pulled back after concluding that it was still too dangerous amid the pandemic.
Until September, New Jersey restaurants and eateries were limited to outdoor dining, takeout orders, curbside pickup and deliveries.
Editor’s note: While some parts of the local economy are thriving, SeaIsleNews.com is urging the public to also support other small businesses in Sea Isle City that are still open but are struggling with hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
