Summer street musician. Main Avenue in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. 2012. By Paul Goldfinger ©
The Associated Press wrote an article about 8 shore towns and how they are doing so far this season. We posted the link on “Wassup” but now we have bit of a conversation going on. Please read the article and then check the comments. What do you have to say about the commercial successes in the Grove this summer?
—-Paul Goldfinger,Editor @Blogfinger
From NJ Commons: ”Revenues are down in 8 shore towns — according to a survey by the Associated Press — but while Sandy may have sent tourists elsewhere for summer rentals, delayed beach opening, reduced the number of rental properties and extended the school year, some folks are blaming the losses on a rainy summer ” Some Ocean Grove merchants are also saying that revenues are down.
OMG, that musician is taking up 2 parking spaces! Call the police. LOL
Paul, DelawareOnline is a Gannett company (just like the APP). The Star Ledger also ran with the Associated Press story. I guess my issue is that of course the numbers are down, what could anyone possibly expect? DelawareOnline ran it to subconsciously promote THEIR beaches like Rehobeth, Bethany and Dewey. I think the shore has done a phenomenal job and I view the article as negative, factual but negative. Seeing it reprinted and linked to just bothered me.
Sal: We post an interesting economic analysis of of 8 shore towns by the Associated Press and you dismiss it as a “fixation?” The Asbury Park Press thought it was so good that they printed it in today’s edition. The article was fascinating because it identified a complicated interaction of factors which have contributed to the downturn this summer, and some of those factors, like the spring rains, had nothing to do with Sandy.
Rich LePore of the OG Chamber of Commerce agreed that business was down in June into July, but he says that this past weekend a dramatic upturn occurred which continues into this week. He predicts a much better August.
What is the fixation with a Delaware based article about New Jersey shore business being down? Of course business is down, the media kept telling people the shore was a broken mess, so they booked vacations elsewhere this summer. People are hearing it’s back like before, but day trips aren’t going to save the lost weekly rentals. Locals need to do their part and bridge the gap until the summer of ’14 when everything will get back to normal.
—Sal July 30, 2013