The Boston Globe
HYANNIS – Strolling down Principal Road within the warmth of summer time lends itself to a cease at Katie’s Home made Ice Cream. The store, decked out in pink with black-and-white checkered flooring, shows an array of flavors together with moose tracks and cotton sweet to passersby. And enterprise is booming.
“I say this on the finish of each summer time, nevertheless it was one among our greatest summers ever,” mentioned proprietor Katie Kimball on Thursday.
Kimball, who has labored on the retailer since she was 14 when her dad and mom purchased it, has seen many ups and downs however claims this 12 months was pretty much as good as, if not higher than, earlier years. And as Hyannis Principal Road goes, so does the remainder of Cape Cod.
This may occasionally come as a shock, given the unsettled climate of current months. In spite of everything, it was the second rainiest summer time on file within the Boston space, and the Cape wasn’t spared, with some guests noting it felt much less crowded than standard. However did the rains really hold individuals away?
Some companies did certainly report extra of a combined bag this summer time, following the surges throughout components of the pandemic when worldwide journey was curbed and close by locations thrived. From resorts and eating places to the ferries and seashores, some venues have reported decrease numbers. However gross sales and foot visitors stay excessive total.
And as Labor Day marks the tip of the excessive season, companies are hoping the shoulder season into October stays robust.
“We’re coming off two record-breaking summers,” mentioned Paul Niedzwiecki, chief govt of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
For these two summers the Cape was nonetheless rising from pandemic journey restrictions, Niedzwiecki mentioned. Certainly, this 12 months, the Cape is forward of some 2019 benchmarks. In 2019 there have been round 5.5 million guests to the Cape, in keeping with the Chamber; it was 6.1 million final 12 months. And though the ultimate numbers aren’t in for 2023, Niedzwiecki is projecting shut to six million guests this 12 months.
“So we’re feeling fairly good,” mentioned Niedzwiecki.
The damp climate has not saved guests away from the Nationwide Seashore seashores, at the least. Up to now this 12 months, the nationwide park had a gradual movement of beachgoers, just like the previous couple of years, in keeping with Linzy French, the service’s visible data specialist.
As for journeys over to the islands, the Steamship Authority is reporting a return to pre-COVID visitors patterns, with demand remaining robust this 12 months, in keeping with communications director Sean Driscoll.
There was concern within the late spring and early summer time that trip leases could be method down due to unhealthy climate and fewer deliberate holidays. However Patrick Foran of Foran Realty, which covers the mid-Cape to the Outer Cape, mentioned leases have stuffed in.
As soon as the climate acquired sunnier and hotter in mid-July, individuals started reserving, Foran mentioned. The variety of leases the corporate had this 12 months was according to final summer time, however was typically for shorter stays. Many homeowners have been keen to barter on the standard Saturday-to-Saturday stays, permitting many to come back for 4 to 5 nights as a substitute of a full week, Foran mentioned.
“I believe it was an excellent summer time, particularly for these house owners who pivoted and have become open to one thing apart from a conventional week-long trip,” Foran mentioned.
Resorts during the last two years noticed traditionally excessive bookings on the Cape and Islands. The Chatham Bars Inn mentioned it once more had occupancy above 90 % for July and August. Though that’s barely under final summer time’s peak, the resort is up 55 % from 2019, mentioned Gary Thulander, the final supervisor.
“We’ve had an especially busy summer time, I’ll put it that method,” mentioned Thulander. The strongest development, he added, has been from friends coming from states with triple-digit temperatures, comparable to California, Florida, and Texas, searching for a reprieve.
Equally, the Pelham Home in Dennis has had robust occupancy regardless of price will increase on account of inflation. John McCarthy, the managing accomplice, attributes that to the rising wedding ceremony season that now runs six months of the 12 months versus the Cape’s conventional 4 peak months. The weddings hold the friends coming whatever the rain, he mentioned.
“It’s been unbelievable,” McCarthy mentioned.
However for others, the climate has put extra of a damper on gross sales.
Anne Scott-Putney, CEO of the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich, attributed the slight drop in guests this 12 months to the rain.
Final 12 months the Gardens noticed its highest turnout for the reason that Nineteen Eighties, Scott-Putney mentioned. This 12 months stays robust, with attendance nonetheless 10 % above pre-pandemic ranges. The will for individuals to spend time outside, a development that began throughout the pandemic, stays robust, she mentioned.
And if the climate has not deterred most diners from consuming out, costs appear to be having an influence. On the Lobster Lure in Bourne, this summer time stays “actual busy,” mentioned proprietor Dave Delancey.
On high of the menu have been lobster rolls, tuna, and swordfish sandwiches. In years previous his prospects would possibly shell out extra for his or her lobster rolls, however this 12 months many are choosing inexpensive seafood choices, he mentioned.
Up to now, Delancey used to promote about 200 lobster rolls a day, and this summer time it was all the way down to about 150. “Individuals are spending just a little extra consciously,” mentioned Delancey.
In the meantime, within the Outer Cape the place Mac’s Seafood reigns, founder Mac Hay seen that there have been not as many individuals as standard in his eating places. The height season remained robust, however the distinction between a mediocre summer time and a powerful one is how gross sales did in June. This 12 months, he mentioned, the unhealthy climate saved individuals away.
However total, Hay is grateful that the Cape stays a preferred vacation spot.
“We had a very nice 12 months,” mentioned Hay. “We clearly don’t know what September goes to carry … but when we get good climate, that may make a distinction.”
