It was finally the perfect weather weekend to spend on the Jersey Shore – good news for businesses owners hoping to cash in after unsettled weather so far this summer.
It broke a streak of seven consecutive weekends of at least one rainy day. Several days of smoke from the Canadian wildfires also had an impact.
"We had two days in June where I was closed and I wrote on my log due to smoke… That really hurt us," said Tom Rogers, who has owned Mamalukes in Belmar for 29 years. "It's been tough because weekends are our business… There's a lot people here today enjoying themselves… Business has been really tough this season."
While Rogers said this weekend could not make up for the beginning of the summer, it certainly made a dent. Beach staff told News 12 New Jersey that Saturday may have set a record for badge sales in Belmar.
On Tuesday, Belmar daily badge sales were down 26%, and overall, badge sale revenue was down 13%. Rogers hopes business picks up.
"We still have seven weeks to go. Come down to the Jersey Shore. Come on down and spend some money," Rogers said.