Businesses battle dreary weather for Memorial Day weekend

DELAWARE – It’s been a year since many businesses could open for memorial day weekend and considering the dreary weather some thrived off of it while others are a little bit disappointed. “Usually it’s busy from Friday through Sunday, for us one of the busiest times of the year,” says general manager at JD Shuckers in Georgetown, Zach Avery. However according to Avery, “Yesterday the weather was so bad that we were just, it was very slow.”

With many COVID-19 restrictions lifted, some businesses say they were excited for the holiday weekend. With the weather putting a damper on many plans, some managers say, it was a major disappointment. However he tells 47 ABC, that doesn’t mean they’re losing hope. “Now having all that lifted, we can actually get back to having fun and doing things for customers because without them we wouldn’t be here,” says Avery.

However, the bad weather didn’t mean a slow weekend for all businesses. In fact, places like Lefty’s Alley and Eats in Lewes say they thrived off the bad weather.
One manager there says Saturday was the busiest day they ever had since they opened five years ago. He says he thinks people were ready to break out of their homes and the weather wasn’t going to stop them. “I think everyone is re-energized that the pandemic is starting to wind down a little bit and people are ready to get out of their house,” says D.J. Hill, a managing partner at Lefty’s Alley and Eats.

While Lefty’s was closed for Memorial day weekend last year, managers say this weekend’s turn out was a good indicator of what may come this summer. “I think everybody is excited, I think we’re excited, I think our guests are excited and based on numbers yesterday people are comfortable coming without question,” says Hill.

However, both businesses tell us, staffing is still a major concern while keeping customers happy and returning. “I just hope that not only us but everyone in our area has a great season, I think we all need it,” says Hill. Avery adds, “We want to make sure everybody that comes in here is completely comfortable and that’s what mean the most to us, making sure that everyone comes in here hungry and leaves here happy.”

We’re also told, JD shuckers has been working on their house beer during their down time called ‘Shuck-n-relax’ a tropical IPA. Both JD Shuckers and Lefty’s is open for memorial day.