Jersey Shore On Memorial Day Weekend: New Vibes, Some Familiarity
JERSEY SHORE, NJ — Memorial Day weekend often signals the unofficial beginning of summer on the Jersey Shore. It did the same last weekend, bringing a dose of familiarity to summer activities while also providing a preview of how the coronavirus may affect the shore this summer.
Parts of Long Beach Island reflected those similarities and differences. Traffic still filled Long Beach Boulevard, even though short-term rentals remain banned until June 1 in Long Beach Township and Beach Haven.
Avery and Jason Walters, whose family runs Narwhal Frozen Yogurt in Surf City, noted some familiarity.
"I think people are making the best out of it," Avery Walters said. "I wish that more places were open. We do miss the small shops and when we didn’t have to worry about going places without wearing a mask. But it looks like it’s going to be a busy summer."
But across the street from where they walked their dogs, differences were clear. People waited in line outside the Surf City 5 & 10, a popular shop entrenched in LBI tradition. Xs on the ground marked the required social distance between customers and groups. Everyone wore masks before shopping inside, as per State requirements.
The Walters's are among the business owners adapting to the changes. Customers have worn protective gear to get self-serve frozen yogurt.
"The customers have been so understanding with wearing gloves and masks, so it’s been good," said Avery Walters.
The Jersey Shore expects to take an economic hit this summer. Attractions such as amusement parks and casinos remain closed. Large summer concerts, such as the Barefoot County Music Fest in Wildwood, have been delayed. Read more: Wildwood's Barefoot Country Music Fest Postponed For Coronavirus
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"The Jersey Shore thrives on good weather and low gas prices," said Villanova School of Business Professor David Fiorenza, an expert in the economics of local hospitality industries. "This year we had both, but what was missing is the confidence of the people to travel to the shore."
Ocean City's boardwalk attracted crowds last weekend. But popular features such as Gillian's Wonderland Pier and Playland Castaway Cove, as well as indoor entertainment attractions, stayed closed.
Customers stood in socially distanced lines on the boardwalk outside eateries and open shops. Shirt World offered curbside (or boardwalk-side) service to customers. The store formed a wall of shirts to keep customers outside while allowing patrons to view products inside the shop.
PICS: Ocean City Boardwalk On Memorial Day Weekend
Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order May 14 to allow beaches and boardwalks to remain open for Memorial Day weekend, with social-distancing measures in place.
The governor and First Lady Tammy Murphy visited the boardwalk in Seaside Heights and Seaside Parks last weekend.
Critics have called for fewer restrictions and more detail as Murphy gradually reopens the Jersey Shore. Several New Jersey representatives — Senator Troy Singleton (Burlington County), Deputy Assembly Speaker John Burzichelli (Gloucester County) and Assemblymen John Armato and Vincent Mazzeo (both Atlantic County) — called Friday for Murphy to present a timeline to reopen parts of the shore.
"Atlantic City and other shore communities around Cape May, Cumberland, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties, need the summer season to carry their families through the difficult off season and winter months," Burzichelli said in a statement. "Unlike Las Vegas and other destinations, summer is the time to be open and safely welcome visitors."
It is unclear when casinos and amusement parks may reopen. New Jersey is in Stage 1 of its reopening plan, "The Road Back." Stage 2 would allow more activities with safeguards and capacity limitations, along with the reopenings of libraries and museums.
Stage 3 allows for officials to consider reopening higher-density settings — such as entertainment and bars — to reopen with safeguards and limited capacity.
There is still time to economically salvage summer through July 4th weekend and Labor Day, Fiorenza says.
"The key to economic resurgence will be recreation for the kids, entertainment for the adults and all restaurants open, even if it is at 25 to 50 percent," he said.
Around Long Branch, restaurants offered curbside service and some people occupied the boardwalk. Locals Ken and Annette Cartaxo sat on a bench with family members who visited the city.
PICS: Long Branch Beach, Boardwalk On Memorial Day Weekend
The Cartaxo's moved to Long Branch earlier this year. Both are physicians in hospitals. They expect that Long Branch had fewer visitors than the usual holiday weekend because of the virus, but they thought it was time to let people enjoy themselves on the shore.
"There are enough restrictions," Ken Cartaxo said. "The big fear was we were going to overwhelm the hospitals. Maybe that happened for a week, if that. Come on, it’s time to say enough is enough."
Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know
This article originally appeared on the Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch
