To prepare for summer travelers, many Cape May, New Jersey locals and business owners are preparing to reopen their shops for the summer season, which officially starts after Easter.
According to Laura’s Fudge owner David Roach, people coming down for the summer can be a challenge due to the increase in population.
“Our biggest challenge during peak season is being able to handle the crowds that flow in and out of the store. It can be a lot, we always hope we have enough staff to handle it,” Roach said.
According to Cape May resident Jessica Redmond, many businesses in Cape May take months to reopen.
“For me personally, my job is year-round, but for other places like the boardwalk, they have already been testing rides and fixing the old boards to get ready for summer,” Redmond said.
Additionally, Redmond said that tourism affects her life in the summer.
“It definitely impacts driving places for me because there is a lot of shore traffic,” Redmond said. “I also make tips at my job, so in the winter I might make $20-70 while in summer, I typically make a lot more because of how many people come into The Lobster House.”
For Redmond, she has noticed a change in population over the past few years.
“After Covid, a lot more people started working at home, so many people started moving into their summer homes permanently. It’s still not as busy as the summertime, but we are seeing more and more people here year-round,” Redmond said.
According to The Lobster House manager John Conway, staffing is the “hardest thing for many businesses.”
“For businesses in a seasonal town, I think staffing is very difficult because you lose college kids who go back to college around August, and you’re still busy, and now you’re left with very few employees,” Conway said.
For Conway, tourists coming down for the summer never bothered him.
“You know, a lot of my usual customers complain about people coming down from the summer, and I always say that those are the people that pay for my vacations and help us stay open,” Conway said. “I’ve never had that attitude toward the influx of population, especially in my business. I think it’s a better attitude to be thankful for those people.”
Additionally, Roach said that while it is very busy, they need travelers because it’s how they remain financially stable.
“[Tourists] are the way we make our income and survive,” Roach said.
According to former Cape May resident Cathrine Santiago, there is a lot of preparation needed in the town before the summer starts.
“I grew up in Cape May, so I know that it takes a lot of preparation for the summer season. Many restaurants start cleaning, putting things back up and stocking up on products to sell,” Santiago said.
For Santiago, Cape May came alive in the summer.
“There were always more people in the summer. Winter was boring and there was not a lot to do while in summer, the weather was nice, everything was open and you could hang out at the beach,” Santiago said.
Additionally, Conway said that while at times he wished his job was busy year-sround, he has come to be thankful for a few months of peace.
“I always thought, Man, if I could just have a good crew and a steady business 12 months a year, my life would be even easier,” Conway said. “Now I realize that having my winter season be stress free is great, and it allows me to come back in the summer with a fresh start.”