Rehoboth Beach Businesses Begin to Open for Beach Season

We're just a few weeks away from beach season, and businesses at the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk are already opening their doors and visitors are getting a sweet sample of the summer months to come.

"It's always good to see the beach come back to life," said Rehoboth resident John Sheridan.

Summer is right around the corner, and local businesses along the eastern shore are opening once again for the season, one shop at a time.

"We opened three weeks ago its been really cold lately but my boss likes to open early because we usually start getting customers pretty early," said The Ice Cream Store employee Adrianna Wright.

Some businesses are still waiting for the warmer weather to kick in before they open up shop, but the one's that are currently open are seeing the benefits.

"So far it seems pretty busy. Everyone was out here for spring break lots of kids lots of families and last weekend was just crazy busy it almost felt like the Fourth of July," said Zelky's Beach Arcade General Manager Matt Weiner.

Business owners say the influx of visitors and beach goers can be attributed to the ugly March weather, a month that brought four nor'easters.

"Everyone definitely has their cabin fever right now because it's been so cold and snowy and rainy and gross," said Weiner.

And visitors are excited to be back in the area that reminds them so much of summer.

"This time of the year it's mostly the caramel corn. The taffy is the secondary thing but like I said most of the. Come by for the caramel corn," said Dolle's Candyland Owner Tom Ibach.

"You can't go wrong with walking up and down Rehoboth Avenue you can even just walk to smell just smell the French fries you smell the pizza you smell everything," said Sheridan.

But for now businesses are enjoying the pre-season, while preparing for the bigger crowds to come.

"It gradually picks up we'll start to see an increase and as soon as the weather breaks in May, we'll start to see an increase and then once we hit June, after school gets out, that's when our season really kicks in," said Ibach.

A couple of businesses in Ocean City also re-opened on Friday. But they say there's still a lot of time to gear up because beach season doesn't officially start until mid June, and then it runs through the end of August.