More than usual, it feels like something is ending in Ocean City this September. But take this report with a caveat: Events and perceptions often appear distorted after a long summer season, to those who remain when the visitors go home. This year, Hurricane Irene put an exclamation point at the end of the season. Ocean… [Read more…]
May 1, 2011
Ocean City Season, 2011 Many years ago, in the 1970s, we opened the Boardwalk 5 & 10 for Easter weekend, but rarely saw much business in Ocean City before Memorial Day weekend. In those days, the season began on the Friday before Memorial Day, and ended promptly at noon on Labor Day. These days, the… [Read more…]
January 5, 2011
I wonder what the global economy will bring us on Main Street America in 2011? As a public service, your Ocean City Blog presents a sampling of business opportunities available in Ocean City, Maryland, this winter. I’m not recommending any of these businesses, mind you; just showing the variety of opportunities out there. I imagine there… [Read more…]
November 29, 2010
New restaurants have a notoriously short life expectancy. And it’s no secret that we’re in a difficult economy. But I figured that Boog’s Barbeque on Route 50, just outside Ocean City, MD, would be a home run, or at least a solid hit. Boog’s Barbeque has been thriving on the Boardwalk, next to Thrasher’s, for years.… [Read more…]
November 29, 2010
I’ve been distracted lately by the banking and debt crisis spreading in Europe, and the street protests in England and Ireland. For a post and and many links, go to Dispatches from ConsterNation. – John
October 17, 2010
Sobering story by Martin Fackler on the front page of The New York Times, Sunday, 10-17-2010. The headlines: Japan Goes From Dynamic to Disheartened Retrenchment Offers the West a Grim Vision of the Future The Great Deflation Coping With Decline Summary: “Since about 1989, Japan fell into a slow but relentless decline that neither enormous budget… [Read more…]
October 14, 2010
Small business is wonderful, but the era of the mom-and-pop corner store is long past. Try as we might, not everyone can be an entrepreneur. Is small business the engine of job growth? I think that’s an urban myth. Small businesses are, by definition, SMALL. They employ very few people, and grow very slowly, as a… [Read more…]
October 14, 2010
Everyone in Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset Counties is a small business owner or a farmer. That’s the impression you would get, listening to the Maryland General Assembly District 38 candidates during a debate at Wor-Wic Community College on Wednesday night. Welcome to the Lower Eastern Shore, home to small business people and chicken farmers. All… [Read more…]
September 21, 2010
The trip isn’t over till it’s over . . . And I’m not sure it’s ever over . . . Ocean City Summer Turns Into Fall The 2010 season is just about done in Ocean City. Delmarvelous Bike Week finished it off with a roar. The bikers are gone . . . and they left… [Read more…]
July 28, 2010
This is the week Ocean City, Maryland, businesses have been waiting for . . . for the last three summers. A banner weekend, probably more people than July 4 weekend. Saturday was the hottest day of the summer (I hope we don’t get any more 110-degree heat index days), and the moon was full in a… [Read more…]
September 19, 2011
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