Beachgoers soak up soggy holiday weekend

Cape Region residents and visitors made the most of a rainy and blustery Memorial Day weekend, kicking off the start of the summer and celebrating an easing of pandemic restrictions.

Despite the less-than-favorable beach weather, reports out of Rehoboth suggest, at least for businesses, the weekend wasn’t a total washout.

Robin Hood Restaurant owner Kosta Tsoukalas said this past weekend was busier than expected.

“It was very busy,” he said. “We didn’t expect to have the volume.”

It’s impossible to compare to last year, but the restaurant wasn’t open for Memorial Day 2020, said Tsoukalas.

“We have to go back two years to 2019 to compare, and we were busier this year than in 2019,” said Tsoukalas, who has an optimistic outlook for the rest of the season. “It’s feeling like it’s going to be a very busy summer. That’s the way it’s shaping up to be, anyway.”

Robin Hood may have been busy, but that wasn’t the case for everyone – especially the businesses facing the Boardwalk, which felt the brunt of the strong easterly winds over the weekend.

Gus & Gus’ George Giatas said they didn’t even open the Boardwalk-facing window on Saturday because of the wind and rain.

“Saturday wasn’t busy at all. It got a little busier on Sunday, after people started walking on the Boardwalk. It is what it is,” said Giatas, who knows the summer will pick up. “In two weeks we’ll be crying uncle.”

Giatas said the weekend before Memorial Day was super busy. It was nice because people aren’t as scared to eat inside anymore, he said.

Funland also faces the Boardwalk, but the amusement park managed to overcome the weather obstacle.

Ian Curry, a fourth-generation family member from Funland, said this past weekend was wild.

“Despite the driving, wind-blown rain and unseasonable cold temperatures, we managed to have a successful weekend,” said Curry, in an email May 31. “We had to adapt our entrances on Saturday and did our best to keep everything open; needless to say, not a single one of us was dry come the end of play Saturday night!”

Curry said Funland was the busiest it's been since 2019, and considering the amusement park didn’t open until mid-July last year, Memorial Day weekend 2021 was a welcome return to some sense of normal.

“The sun is out and temperatures warm for Memorial Day, so we’re excited to finish out the weekend with beach-friendly weather,” said Curry.

In Lewes, Mayor Ted Becker said the rain did not keep people away. Instead of going to the beach, they shopped and ate downtown. 

“Lewes shops and restaurants all benefitted from the crowds who were enjoying being here,” he said. “Most merchants reported strong sales and restaurants were fully booked. While most people were not wearing masks, most people seemed to be very respectful of the need to maintain an appropriate amount of social distance. It is encouraging to see such a strong desire of people to visit and patronize all of things that Lewes has to offer. We look forward to a very strong summer season.”

In Dewey Beach, Steve “Monty” Montgomery of The Starboard said the dreadful weather all weekend had to hinder business for many on the first true holiday weekend in 18 months. 

“The Starboard is grateful to be one of the few that benefited from the weather and set record sales numbers throughout the weekend,” Monty said. “With lines wrapped around the block day and night for several continuous days, the emotions ran high for both employees and customers as life was 'normal' for once.”

Overall, Montgomery said, people were excited, generous, respectful and appreciative to be back at The Starboard without a mask enjoying themselves the way they used to.  

“It's all smiles here on how the timing worked out perfectly to be fully open for business a week before what is typically the biggest sales weekend of our year,” Montgomery said.

Woody’s Dewey Beach Bar and Grill owner Jimmy O’Conor said the weekend went very well; sales were up even though the restaurant had to stop accepting takeout orders as soon as a waitlist started, from about 5 p.m. Friday through pretty much the rest of the weekend.

“We were only offering uncooked crab cakes for customers to have at home,” O’Conor said. “It kills me to have to tell customers that we aren’t offering takeout because of short kitchen staff and then see the disappointed look on their faces.”

Although the rain prevented customers from sitting on Woody’s new outdoor deck all of Saturday and most of Sunday, O’Conor said customers were for the most part very patient and understanding.

Business was a bit slow at Grain On The Rocks at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal, but owner Lee Mikles says he isn’t worried about the rest of the summer.

“On the heels of the prior [busy] weekend, it was welcome as the summer staff continues to get their ‘sea legs,’” he said. “This summer is going to be great. People have been coming out and really enjoying the waterfront location. People have been waiting to travel for over a year, and driving to the beach is still winning out over flying elsewhere.”