Rowan’s Joel Vazquez-Juarbe starts blog as part of school assignment, saw impact of pandemic
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
SOMERS POINT — When Joel Vazquez-Juarbe was tasked with writing a blog for his digital journalism class at Rowan University, he immediately thought of the struggles of Ocean City’s small businesses this past summer as his topic.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic on the East Coast — which kept numerous businesses in the city and across the nation closed through spring and open only with limitations in the summer — Vazquez-Juarbe realized how important mom and pop-type shops are not only to the economy but also to the overall wellness of a community. He was in his second summer of working at Bungalow Bowls in the heart of the city’s downtown business district.
“I realized throughout the pandemic that Ocean City has a big variety of local businesses and I thought it would be an interesting topic,” the 2018 Mainland Regional High School graduate said.
Vazquez-Juarbe earned an associate degree in general studies at Atlantic Cape Community College, where he was assistant editor of the school newspaper The Atlantic Cape Review. He is now working toward a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Rowan.
In the introduction to his blog, at thelocalocnj.wordpress.com, Vazquez-Juarbe wrote:
“This is my first semester at Rowan University, and while this isn’t the ideal situation, quarantine has taught me that it’s up to you to make the best experiences even in the worst of times.
“I was fortunate enough to keep my job during quarantine. I work at Bungalow Bowls in Ocean City. (If you’ve ever seen an artsy fruit bowl on your feed, it’s probably us.) I wasn’t just grateful because I was able to make money, I was grateful because there was at least one element in my life that was normal.
“Oddly enough, the only time I felt I was reminded that the world was in a pandemic was when people said ‘thank you for staying open.’ The fact that by doing my job, I made someone’s day was extraordinary and terrifying.
“‘This fruit bowl could be the only reason someone leaves their house today,’ I thought to myself.
“I began to think about the importance of local businesses. Not only are they essential to keep the economy healthy, but they’re the foundations of places like Ocean City.
“On this little island are more than 100 local businesses. That’s more than 100 local business owners, more than 100 employees, more than 100 stories of people trying to make a living on this little island.
“In this blog, we’re going to hear the stories of local business owners in Ocean City. My hope is that you’ll leave each post with a new appreciation for local business and the people who run them.”
Vazquez-Juarbe, who grew up in Northfield and moved to Somers Point during his freshman year, said the experience opened his eyes to the multitude of unique shops and boutiques in the city’s award-winning downtown and how they are not only places to buy things, but also part of the fabric of the community.
He said tourists are well aware of the big-name businesses such as Manco and Manco and Johnson’s Popcorn, so he decided to focus on small retailers. He said he was hoping to interview Kristina Young, owner of Peace of Wood art gallery.
Vazquez-Juarbe became familiar with Young and her studio because it is next door to Bungalow Bowls.
“I thought it would be a good subject. It’s very peaceful, very quiet. They have a bunch of art from artists in the area. They do little jam sessions, it’s so peaceful with a surfer vibe,” Vazquez-Juarbe said.
The college junior also would like to interview Bowfish Kids/Bowfish Studios co-founders McKenna Robel and Caitlin Quirk.
He said he also spent time this summer working at OC Waterpark, where Bowfish Studios held its mermaid camps. The weekly camp included two hours of swimming and sliding at OC Waterpark before it opened to the public.
Vazquez-Juarbe said he was also inspired by local businesses showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which burst forth across the country following a Black man’s death at the hands of the Minneapolis police.
He mentioned 7th Street Surf Shop, which organized a paddle out in which surfers gathered and formed a circle to show respect.
“I realized a lot of things are going on with small businesses that people don’t realize and I want to get to know the business owners,” he said. “I’m going to focus on telling their stories and how they got to the point where they are.”
Vazquez-Juarbe said he planned to have the first business profile on his blog Oct. 4.