47abc
February 19, 2021
OCEAN CITY, Md. – It’s been over two weeks since restaurants were given the go ahead to stay open past ten p.m. in Maryland. It sounds like great news for them, but some restaurant owners tell 47 ABC it’s actually not making much of a difference.
“For us, the going from ten o’clock to two o’clock is not really any more of a gift than going from 50 to 75 percent,” John Fager, the owner of Fager’s Island, said.
Back on the first of February, restaurants and bars in Maryland got that green light from Governor Larry Hogan to stay open until 2 a.m. after previously having to close by 10 p.m. Some restaurant owners say it does give restaurants more freedom.
47abc
February 1, 2021
OCEAN CITY, MD-
Now that the 10 pm curfew has been lifted restaurants in Ocean City say they are eager to keep their doors open.
Susan Jones of the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association tells 47ABC, “It certainly gives them the opportunity to really see the light at the end of the tunnel saying, hey, they can make it, they can push through.”
While restaurants and bars have been open in some capacity, the curfew lift will be a help especially to local musicians.
Jones continues, “That we can no longer have to shut down at a certain time, its really great news for the restaurant industry. And even better for people making a living playing live music because that particular segment was really damaged.”
47abc
January 5, 2021
Ocean City, MD
Even though President Donald Trump has extended the temporary pause on J1 Student Visas, some officials in Ocean City are optimistic that they will be fully staffed for the upcoming summer season.
Lachelle Scarlato of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce remains hopeful. “We’re still positive in our thought process, certainly not of the mindset we were last summer.”
The Ocean City Chamber of Commerce has been watching the J1 visa situation closely- and feels confident that while the pause was extended- the program is likely to resume by March 31st.
“We may see an ever slight delay in the rollout as a result of that but ultimately not impacting our season.”
47abc
December 29, 2020
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OCEAN CITY, MD – Due to an expected shortage of J1 students, hotels here in Ocean City are worried about making ends meet for the busy summer season.
This summer, there will only be 1100 J1 Visa students contracted as temporary labor- down from the usual 4000. This comes as a challenge, especially as Park Place Hotel prepares to reopen in late February.
“1100 people and all of the businesses in Ocean City are trying to get that 1100 when we really need 4000 so we’re all going to be competing against each other.”, says Jackie Ball, owner of Park Place Hotel.
There were no J1 Visa students at all permitted last year, effecting the economy. Ball notes that the past summer was a rough one for the city.