Area Businesses Eye Post-Labor Day Events to Keep Visitors Coming Back

As the unofficial end of summer draws near, local business owners are eyeing  post-Labor Day events to at least keep tourists coming back through the official end of summer, if not staying in the region.

Many are hoping that events like the upcoming Chowderfest - the first of its kind in Point Pleasant Beach - will keep people heading back to the area, and help keep businesses dollars flowing, in what some have described as a slow summer for tourism dollars, post Sandy.

"It depends on who you talk to," said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carol Vaccaro. "Some people are slow, and others are having a good year."

Ellen Mautner, who owns Sarah's Kiddles, told Patch that her business is down about 10 percent this year over the same time last year.

"We'll see how it goes. I'm a little apprehensive about the fall, but [business] coincides with the economy, which is still not the greatest. You add that to the customer base not being here, it's been down ... But I'm hopeful some of the [fall events] bring people to town."

Regardless of how businesses are faring, Vaccaro said the Chamber is planning events like then newly-introduced chowderfest, and the regularly-held seafood festival, to keep people coming back. 

The 36th Annual Festival of the Sea and Street Fair located Downtown Point Pleasant Beach will be held Saturday, September 21st, with a rain date of the 22nd.