Ocean City Bouncing Back - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

We may not be totally out of this recession, but some promising local tourism numbers show the economy is improving and on the right track.

Ocean City leaders and business owners are all smiles now that the beach town's biggest event boasts its largest attendance since 2008, the year when the US economy officially began it's downward spiral.

Ocean City Council Woman, Mary Knight said "the economy is bouncing back and people want to have a good time"

In light of the country's economic issues and hurricane Irene that hit Ocean City hard last year, things are looking up.    

"We'd go from 8 o'clock - 9 o'clock at night until midnight without a soul in here," said Jeff Mushrush, General Manager of BJs On the Water, "the economy finally hit down here."

BJs not only stays open year round; it's also one of the restaurants that typically stays open late night, sometimes closing as late as 1:30am.  It wasn't until the winter of 2011 that the restaurant had to start closing its doors early,
but so far, 2012 has been much better for business.

This fall and winter, the area is looking forward to the weekend events that bring thousands of people to the beach during a time that's notoriously slow.

"With the Sunfest coming on, bike week, labor day, then you have Octoberfest coming up, Columbus Day weekend, classic cars, it's helping out a lot down here...helping the economy out a lot," said Mushrush.

If the rest of the year is anything like this summer has been, Ocean City will be in good shape , and they're open for business!

In the words of Council Woman Knight "we just don't stop!"