Downtown businesses more than prepared for Ocean’s Calling Festival

OCEAN CITY, Md. – The Oceans Calling Music Festival will begin Friday. The popular resort town is hosting a three-day event that is expected to draw visitors from around the world. Downtown businesses anticipate an uptick in customers.

Wendy DiBuo, who owns Crawl Street Tavern, said people have been coming in since the start of the week. “We saw the vehicles rolling onto the Route 50 bridge earlier this week,” she said.

Green Day, Lenny Kravitz and Fall Out Boy will headline the festival. Mike Strawley, who owns The Bearded Clam next door to Crawl Street, said he is excited. “So that’s the part I like — so many new people come into town and get exposed to my family,” Strawley said.

Both bars expect heavy foot traffic because they are located near festival entrances. For DiBuo, business could not be better. “Generally speaking, it’s business times 10,” she said.

Strawley said his favorite part of being in the bar business is making an impression on people who have never been to the resort town. “People from all over come to these concerts now,” he said. “It’s not just Philadelphia, Baltimore and D.C. It’s Germany, Switzerland, it’s California.”

Nasim Mohammadi, who owns Hop In Bakery, said she hopes festival attendees remain mindful and respectful. She noted that many of the visitors are younger. “Businesses are trying to give people service and do the best we can,” Mohammadi said. “However, we would all like respect.”

All three businesses plan to extend hours and add staff. Strawley called it necessary. “All hands on deck. I work opening to close every single day, and the younger guys do the same,” he said.

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