Grand Strand businesses counting on big weekend

While many people, including city and federal employees enjoyed the day off Friday, it was the beginning of a busy weekend for most local businesses.

Some of the local souvenir shops say they desperately need to have a big sales weekend because sales have been slow so far this year.

“It’s very important. That’s what we depend on. Good weekends down here. This is a tourist town and you know, we have to have a good weekend in sales to you know, to do alright here,” David Murdock, from the Crazy Lazy store, said.

Slick Track Family Amusement Park in Garden City is just one of many businesses that will benefit if sales pick up this weekend.

“This weekend is really important for the rest of the summer,” Josh Marron, an employee at Slick Track, said.

A strong weekend for business owners is especially important after a slow spring sales season.

“It’s pretty crucial for everybody. I think we’ve gotten off to a slow start, so we’re hoping with the perfect weather forecast that people come down and celebrate the fourth of July here at the beach,” Paula Green, owner of Garden City Pier, said,

While tourists are still flocking to the beach for the holiday weekend, many are cutting back on how much they’ll spend.

“We can’t put a dollar amount on it, but we’re just cutting back a little bit. But you know, we’re still on vacation, we’re still going to spend money,” Craig Taylor, who traveled from West Virginia, said.

The sunny weather should help the outdoor businesses.

“Fourth’s just a real good pop to help us pay off some bills we accumulated for the spring time and it sort of really gets the summer going you know we still have 7 or 8 weeks of summer left,” Charlie Belissary of Downwind Sails, said.