Beaches, businesses in Wrightsville Beach excited to be open, expecting busy weekend
People were flocking to the coast this weekend to take advantage of the end of the state's stay-at-home order and the move to phase 2 of reopening the state after the coronavirus pandemic.
Beach communities that have already lost out on several months of tourism revenue are looking forward to a big weekend. By Friday afternoon, the beaches in Wrightsville Beach were packed. The Shell Island Resort expected to be at full capacity this weekend, too.
Everything may look a little different due to strict guidelines regarding social distancing, but restaurant owners like the Andrews, who own the South Beach Grill, say in the long run it’s all worth it.
"We're just looking forward to doing what we do best, having them sit down, relax and enjoy a meal," said Elaine Andrews. "And we're allowed to serve them and give them a nice, wonderful weekend."
Dara Newberry, general manager of Shell Island Resort, said she's also expecting a huge weekend.
"I think people feel very blessed that they are allowed to come to the beach," Newberry said. "It's a great time to open the economy in May."
A lot of people say this isn’t just Memorial Day weekend, this is the end of quarantine and there’s no better place to celebrate but at the beach. The business owners we spoke with also said the PPP loans allowed them to stay afloat, and now they are using that money to re-hire employees for what they hope will be a busy summer season.
