Parking revenue strong at Rehoboth Beach

After a harsh winter, Delawareans and out-of-state visitors are ready to relax at First State beaches, season-opening weekend parking revenue suggests.

While slightly lower than last year's Memorial Day weekend figures, beach town officials report strong collections from the holiday weekend.

"It was a rough winter; if they can afford it, they want to get away," Rehoboth City Manager Greg Ferrese said.

Rehoboth parking meter revenue, which Ferrese said is the best way to determine a crowd, brought in $91,076 over the weekend, compared with last year's $92,287.

This year's holiday weekend "was a winner in every way possible, from the weather to the high visitation," said Carol Everhart, CEO for the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Everhart said on Saturday night there were fewer than two dozen rooms available for lodging in the beach area.

"For the last three years, Memorial Day has been the bone that comes along just when they need it," Everhart said.

Despite a high turnout for the holiday last year, she said, the summer was flat: Bad weather with 20 rainy days in June hurt beach attendance.

Everhart said she hopes last weekend's strong turnout is an indicator for the entire summer. This year, she expects the beaches to do better than breaking even, given that area advertising information requests have increased.

Lewes City Manager Paul Eckrich said he didn't have specifics on how many visited Lewes for the holiday but saw about the average Memorial Day weekend crowd. He said the good weather helped bring out a larger crowd than last year, when it rained.

Eckrich said he expected beach turnout to be strong throughout the summer.

"People love coming to Lewes and people love coming to the beach," Eckrich said. "The economy is not the greatest, but they are still willing to get out and make the shorter trips."

Carrie Subity, membership director for the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, said the area does not track visitors, but she received positive reports from area vendors and rental agencies.

Subity said that if the past weekend was an indicator, the summer would be a success.

"Because the weather has been so unseasonably warm, we've seen people here all week, staying from the holiday weekend," Subity said.

The post-holiday weekend time is typically difficult because most schools are still in session and many families do not go on vacation until July, Subity said. She said events planned throughout June, such as the upcoming Taste of Coastal Delaware, help bring people in.

James Lucas, general manager at Harpoon Hanna's restaurant in Fenwick Island, said the past weekend was the restaurant's best Memorial Day weekend ever.

"Each year, we've had a better number," Lucas said. "2009 was our biggest year, and now we're already ahead for 2010 sales."

Lucas said the restaurant expects to continue to do well for the rest of the summer -- but it all depends on one element.

"As long as we get the weather," he said.

source: delawareonline.com