MB Boardwalk Businesses Evaluate Labor Day Weekend Revenues

As the Labor Day weekend fades into history in Myrtle Beach, local businesses along the bustling boardwalk are taking stock of their profits. Initially, expectations were low, given that foot traffic over the past summer months had seen a significant decrease. However, many enterprises have been pleasantly surprised to discover they fared much better than anticipated.

Business Reflections Demystified

A wave of visitors graced the boardwalk signaling a fruitful weekend for many small enterprises in the vicinity. One such business, the E-Z Eats Cafe, owned by Salvador Jacinto, noted that although the profits weren’t on par with last year’s, there was a noticeable upswing in patronage.

“Compared to what we’ve been experiencing this season, it went pretty good. Not quite up to what we did last year, but certainly a sweet sigh of relief,” stated Jacinto.

Influence of Waves of Praise Festival

One element blessing businesses with a sudden burst of consumer is the Waves of Praise festival. The event, held at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion, drove an influx of visitors to the boardwalk, breathing life back into the once bustling seaside commerce.

Julia Morovitz, a local retailer, affirmed its impact, stating, “I will say the gospel festival really helped a lot.”

Non-stop Weekend for Some Businesses

While some businesses noted a substantial surge over the weekend, the Wacky T’s store, managed by David Angarita, highlighted that, despite being a cut above recent weekends, it was still below their standard expectations.

“It was better than the past weekends, but still low for us,” Angarita revealed.

Overview of Occupancy Rates

The burst in customer foot traffic was indeed a blessing for local retail businesses. The impact, however, did not fully resonate with the lodging sector in Myrtle beach. According to occupancy statistics for short-term rental lodging, hotel occupancy dipped by 3.4% in comparison to Labor Day weekend in 2023.

While the weekend has indeed been kinder to businesses along the boardwalk, this surge was seemingly a pleasant irregularity in an otherwise quiet season. Looking ahead, local enterprises are hopeful that such events, like the Waves of Praise festival, will re-energize the economy and resurrect the boardwalk’s bustling charm in the coming months.

Reporting by HERE News Network, Myrtle Beach.