Comcast partners with local cafe to celebrate National Small Business Appreciation Month
Ocean City, Md. – A little appreciation can go a long way, especially for National Small Business Appreciation Month. On Thursday, Comcast offered the first 100 patrons of its customer, Longboard Cafe on Coastal Highway in Ocean City, a $20 voucher for every party with at least two people.
“We wanted to find a way for our Comcast business team to give back to the community that we serve here in Ocean City, to one of our small business customers, which Longboard is a great partner with us,” Manager of Public Relations for Comcast Beltway Region Patrick Severe said. “So we just wanted to, you know, have a celebratory event and give back both to our customer itself and the wider Ocean City community.”
Longboard Cafe Assistant General Manager Alex Hering said partnerships like these can mean everything to small businesses and the community.
“A lot of these partnerships allow small businesses to catch a little bit of a break, get their feet on the ground, start running, and, really give themselves a chance to make an impact and community which in turn helps employ people,” Hering said. “I mean, you know, it’s a whole trickle down effect for everything.”
As for the costumers, they were happy for the special opportunity to eat at Longboard Cafe and how Thursday’s partnership shone a light on small businesses.
“Ocean City, sometimes people think of that as being in a small town, but I think a lot of the businesses here are built on small businesses,” Lauren Brumbaugh said. He and his wife, Michaelene Johnson, are based in Halethorpe, Md. but have had a home in Ocean City for 37 years. “And it’s kind of what small town America is all about.”
Hering said small businesses are the “lifeblood” of small town communities, especially coastal towns like Ocean City. He said during warmer months, heavy tourism makes an impact, but it is during the off season that support for local businesses that keeps the community going.
“They’re essential. Without them, I don’t think this town would be nearly thriving as it is,” he said.
