EAST LYME, Conn. — The rain is not looking good for businesses along the shoreline, a popular New England vacation destination.
Niantic restaurants were hoping that this 4th of July weekend would bring in business, especially after the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, but Friday was a washout.
Main Street Grille Owner Teddy Ignatiadis said they bought food to prepare for the holiday weekend already but had to cut down to half staff due to the weather Friday.
“The deliveries are really tough to get so we started ordering Thursday, prepping this morning as well, hoping for the best,” Ignatiadis said. “You can’t fight Mother Nature, but we are trying our best to stay open so it’s a tough weekend to lose.”
The restaurant is still open inside and Ignatiadis is hoping people will still come down to Niantic despite the weather.
“Everybody feeds off each other from the ice cream shop to the antique shop to the children’s museum so if the weather ruins it, not a lot of people are going to come,” Ignatiadis said.
The weather didn’t seem to put a damper on business for Village Wines and Spirits.
“Some people want to get together anyway, whether it rains or not, and especially with the pandemic waning and people being vaccinated and they want to gather with families so with us it’s not hurting our business,” owner Lynn Kiah said.
Some Niantic visitors are staying optimistic for a change in the weather.
“I’m dressing as if it’s going to warm up,” Ryan McNeil from West Hartford said. “Still nice to see friends and family, regardless of weather, so we’re just making the best of it.”
Local business owners are still trying to stay positive, despite the weather. They hope that people will still come down to Niantic and that the rain will let up later this weekend.
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