10pm curfew lift in Maryland has some in Ocean City feeling hopeful

OCEAN CITY, MD-

Now that the 10 pm curfew has been lifted — restaurants in Ocean City say they are eager to keep their doors open.

Susan Jones of the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association tells 47ABC, “It certainly gives them the opportunity to really see the light at the end of the tunnel saying, hey, they can make it, they can push through.”

While restaurants and bars have been open in some capacity, the curfew lift will be a help especially to local musicians.

Jones continues, “That we can no longer have to shut down at a certain time, its really great news for the restaurant industry. And even better for people making a living playing live music because that particular segment was really damaged.”

This lift comes as a life raft as the OC Hotel Motel Restaurant Association aims to draw in tourists after last summer season was hit hard by the pandemic.

Jones remarks, “It certainly helps those places that have historically operated as bars and certainly some places have said to me, ‘I don’t know how much longer I can hang on.'”

Besides bringing in tourists they’re hoping to also increase employment opportunity.

Jones tells 47ABC, “I think what restaurants will have to do, perhaps, is find some more employees because they may have only had one shift coming to work. They might have to have their employees working a little longer or having a whole other shift come in.”

Beach Barrels in Ocean City feels well prepared.
The bar has used the pandemic time to get creative, with hopes to bring in more staff.

Brandon Meyers of Beach Barrels tells 47ABC, “Just like any seasonal city any seasonal bar in this city we’re gonna have need for more people throughout the year. Probably a couple extra hands and have some new refurbishment in the place. We definitely need more people in.”