Shore businesses keep celebrations going after blizzard postpones Belmar Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day parade
Business owners said the parade typically serves as an unofficial start to the busy summer season and brings a surge of visitors to the shore.
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Jersey Shore businesses kept the St. Patrick's Day holiday spirit alive on Sunday after last week's blizzard forced organizers to reschedule the Belmar Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day parade to March 28.
“We are in the spirit. A lot of establishments are still keeping their bands. People are coming out. There’s still a big thing going on today. So come on down guys,” said Robbi Rose, of Hot Bagels Belmar.
Plenty of people, despite the parade postponement, continued to visit local shops like Hot Bagels where Irish decorations and green bagels still marked the occasion.
Business owners said the parade typically serves as an unofficial start to the busy summer season and brings a surge of visitors to the shore.
“It’s a Saturday, which is probably maybe a little bit better for some people. But yeah, it’s a thing. It starts off...It’s a Belmar heritage...So it’s still parade day, whether we like it or not,” Rose said.
The party also continued at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como. Bar partner Patrick Mastrorilli said preparations had already been completed before the weather forced organizers to change plans.
“We were getting a lot of phone calls and a lot of interactions, social media, asking if we were going to be open without the parade, celebrate St. Patrick. We already had ordered a lot of corned beef, cabbage. Had all the employees ready to go. So we made a decision to move forward,” Mastrorilli said.
Crowds continued to arrive throughout the morning.
“We’re really busy inside right now. We just got word that the train coming down from Woodbridge is packed, and they’re all chanting 'Bar A.' So we’re hoping to see them here,” Mastrorilli said.
