Two years after Superstorm Sandy, Jersey Shore is back
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. - As the wise man once said, "Down the shore, everything's all right."
While you couldn't have said that last year, the first summer after Superstorm Sandy ravaged the communities of New Jersey, this summer has been a different story.
The weather's been terrific this summer at the Jersey Shore. And at the Harvey Cedars Shellfish Co. on Long Beach Island, good weather has been great for business. John Garofalo and his brother Mike own the restaurant.
"We have more customers coming in, so business is up. We're selling more dinners every night so that's always a positive thing," said John Garofalo.
The Jersey Shore has had 19 weekends of clear weather with temperatures rising above 70 degrees.
"The only time it rains is at nighttime and then it gets sunny in the daytime so it's been a good summer," said Garofalo.
This is exactly what business owners here needed. It's been two years since Superstorm Sandy barreled through the Jersey Shore, tearing through homes and businesses and causing $37 billion of damage.
Last summer, the state kicked off an ambitious $25 million ad campaign, with Gov. Chris Christie declaring the shore was open and ready for business.
But bad weather cut the summer short, and the recovery stalled. In September, a fire destroyed the boardwalk in Seaside Park.
"The fire was a punch in our gut," said Mike Loundy, a member of the Seaside Heights Chamber of Commerce, where beach revenue is expected to be over $1 million this year.
"So from a projection stand point, we're right around where we hope to be for this time. It's not where we ultimately want to be, but we're very happy with the way it's going," he said.
Business owners along the shore say time is their friend, and by next year they hope to be up another 20 percent to 30 percent. Tourism is a $40 billion industry in New Jersey, most of which comes from the shore.
