They say 100 percent have safeguards in place; merchants fear losing businesses
Editor’s note: This press release was issued June 5 by the Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Association.
OCEAN CITY – Revenues in 2020 are down by more than 50 percent for more than three in four Ocean City Boardwalk businesses – and merchants universally say the season is in danger of being lost if state-imposed business restrictions are not lifted soon, according to a survey released Friday, June 5, by the Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Association.
The survey found that 100 percent of Ocean City businesses report having social distancing, safety and hygiene plans in place. Additionally, business owners overwhelmingly believed stay- at-home orders and business closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were justified but are no longer necessary, according to the association.
“We welcome Governor Murphy’s announcement that he will allow certain businesses to begin opening in the coming weeks, but we do not believe it goes nearly far enough for Ocean City Boardwalk businesses and the thousands of people we employ,” BMA President Wes Kazmarck said. “Our businesses – retail, restaurants and rides – are ready to open safely today.
“Our businesses have put safeguards in place to operate as safely as possible to protect the health and safety of our workers and guests, while allowing families to enjoy all that the Ocean City Boardwalk has to offer. We have done our part over the last three months. Now, Governor Murphy must do his part and allow us to make a living and pay our employees.”
Gov. Murphy’s latest order allows retail shops to open and restaurants to offer outdoor dining on June 15, which does little to solve the economic challenges facing many Ocean City Boardwalk merchants, Kazmarck said. Most restaurants are unable to accommodate outdoor dining, given the layout of the Boardwalk, and retail shops and restaurants rely on visitors to amusement parks to attract visitors who shop and dine in their businesses.
The survey found that 100 percent of merchants said they would be negatively impacted if the state requires amusement parks to remain closed.
According to the association, the survey also found:
- Workforce Reduction: 40 percent of Boardwalk businesses have cut their workforce by 26 to 50 percent this year, while 24 percent have cut their workforce by 91 to 100 percent, 20 percent cut their workforce by 26 to 50 percent, 12 percent have reduced the number of workers by 76 to 90 percent. Just 4 percent have cut their workforce by less than 10 percent.
- Lost Business: 40 percent of Boardwalk merchants say revenues are down 51 to 75 percent, 24 percent say business is down 26 to 50 percent, 20 percent say it is down 76 to 90 percent, and 16 percent say business is down 91 to 100 percent.
- Salvageable Season: 20 percent of Boardwalk merchants say the season is salvageable for their business, while 80 percent said it “depends on when we are permitted to fully open.”
- Out Of Business: 12 percent of Boardwalk merchants said they have considered closing their businesses for good, while 80 percent said they had not. 8 percent were unsure.
- Supportive Merchants: 84 percent of Boardwalk merchants said they believed the stay- at-home orders and business closures were necessary to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, while 16 percent said they were unsure. Conversely, 96 percent said the stay-at-home orders and business closures are not necessary today. 4 percent were unsure.
“Our businesses may not be essential to Governor Murphy, but they are essential to us, our families and everyone we employ here in Ocean City,” Kazmarck said. “Ocean City’s Boardwalk businesses did our part. We followed by the governor’s executive order and shut down our businesses, delayed opening for the season and prohibited shoppers from entering our stores, eating in our restaurants or enjoying our rides. We simply cannot survive even another month of this. It is time to open all local Ocean City businesses. Today.”