Busier summer seen at shore in pandemic year 2

BELMAR, N.J. >> The second summer of COVID-19 at the Jersey Shore is likely to look much different than last year’s: Many virus restrictions have been lifted, nightclubs and dance floors will be packed again, and restaurants and bars can serve full crowds indoors.

Shore towns report brisk beach badge sales as they drop capacity limits they put in place last summer to keep people farther apart on the sand. Ocean City was closing in on $1 million worth of beach badge sales by the end of April, the earliest they had ever reached that mark.

“It’s been exceptionally busy,” said city spokesperson Doug Bergen said.

The lifting of outdoor capacity limits has cleared the way for large-scale concerts to resume at venues including the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, which lists upcoming shows including Luke Bryan, Lady A and the Jonas Brothers.

Summer rentals are seeing strong bookings. But even as vendors anticipate the return of traffic, tourists and beachgoers, some are struggling to hire staff and ramp their businesses back up to full speed. A labor shortage is making it hard for many seasonal businesses to find enough workers. And their supply chains have been disrupted by manufacturers, distribution and delivery firms who are also having trouble hiring.

In at least one place, that means it might be harder to find sprinkles for your ice cream cone.

Raj Kapoor manages a food court on the Belmar oceanfront that includes an ice cream parlor and a burrito joint. He said even simple things like stocking the store with soda is a challenge this season.

A delivery that was promised the next day took a week and a half to show up because the distributor didn’t have enough drivers, Kapoor said. The toppings for ice cream cones are on a six-week back-order.

Kapoor has hired 14 workers this summer, in part by posting ads on the Facebook pages of local schools but still needs eight to 10 more. That worries him, when all signs point to a gangbuster season just around the corner.

“This past week the town is already filled with college kids; all the rentals look filled,” he said. “People are itching to get out.”

Vacationers are also returning to the Jersey Shore, according to Ann Delaney, a real estate agent in Avalon, who said she saw more May weeks rented this year than ever before.

“For 2021, tenants are comfortable, and confident about making summer vacation plans,” she said. “As a resident, I noticed that last summer was a bit noisier. Owners and tenants spent more time at home, playing games on the sidewalk, hanging out on the decks at night, gathering in their yards. With restaurants, bars, shops, and the movie theater back open, I’m hoping for a more reasonable bedtime.”

The Atlantic City casinos are hoping big crowds will make up for last year’s lost Memorial Day weekend, which came as the nine casinos were closed due to the virus.