Sun over holiday weekend brings visitors to Shore, smiles to merchants

Sunshine for most of the Fourth of July weekend was a good thing for the South Jersey beach resorts. 

This holiday weekend was one for the record books, said Scott Wahl, business administrator for the borough of Avalon.

“One of the largest crowds that we’ve had in quite some time, there were no vacancies, and an active downtown area,” he said. “The beaches were crowded and it was an all-time record crowd for our July Fourth fireworks display.”

In Ocean City, businesses had a chance to make some money after a slow start to the summer season, said Michelle Gillian of the Chamber of Commerce.

“It is a shot in the arm for our businesses, it really helps project a good summer for them,” she said. “April and May were a little wet, a lot wet, and day-trippers and second homeowners didn’t come as much as they usually do.”

Once Philadelphia-area temperatures go over 90, visitors think about Shore trips, she said.