This weekend, thousands of people visiting two Monmouth County beach towns will have to take detours due to the closure of the Route 71 bridge. However, despite the inconvenience, business owners are making the best of the holiday weekend.
The Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce’s summer kickoff event began in Belmar on Friday, featuring a trolley tour of businesses near the bridge detour. Todd Vitalis, the general manager of Klein’s Fish Market in Belmar, expressed frustration over the impact the bridge closure and recent rainy weather have had on their business.
Some shops, like Klein’s Fish Market, have experienced a 25% decrease in revenue since the bridge broke in early March. Evelyn Mars, executive director of the Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce, noted that the rainy weather and New Jersey’s business friendliness have added to
