More food concessions open on boardwalk

At the peak of one of the city’s busiest summer seasons, two more food concessions opened up in time for the July Fourth weekend, and more comfort stations are prepared for grand openings originally scheduled for May.

Following a year in which Long Beach brought in a record $4.3 million in beach pass revenue, the city netted $1.3 million in daily and seasonal beach passes, as well as Long Island Rail Road sales, from May 10 to Memorial Day, a 30 percent increase over the same period in 2015.

Though less-than-optimal weather rolled in last weekend, resulting in rough water and rain that postponed the annual Fireworks Extravaganza, the city drew large crowds for the official start of summer.

“We had a hugely successful July Fourth weekend,” Gordon Tepper, Long Beach’s director of communications, told the Herald last week. “The weather has been terrific, and the beach and boardwalk have been packed. The summer of 2016 is off to a terrific start.”

Though total sales for the summer thus far have not been released, the city is ahead of last year’s pace, according to City Manager Jack Schnirman, who added that the sales of daily passes — whose price increased from $12 to $15 this summer for visitors — are very strong.

One factor that may be contributing to the larger crowds is the expanded food options up and down the 2.2-mile boardwalk. Some of the five new comfort stations, originally slated to open on Memorial Day Weekend, debuted earlier this month, including Beach Local Café and Riptides at Grand and Edwards boulevards, respectively. Gentle Brew Coffee Roasters, at National Boulevard, was the first to open, at the end of May.

The boardwalk makeover was made possible last year when the City Council voted unanimously to approve an $8.6 million project — which was reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency — to build the comfort stations, but opening them took longer than anticipated.

The Hurley Surf Center, at Riverside Boulevard, and Shakes & Shuckers, at Lincoln Boulevard, are not yet operating, but are expected to open soon with multi-year contracts, officials said.

Sean Sullivan, former owner of Swingbelly’s in the West End, opened Beach Local Café, which offers a variety of gourmet dishes inspired by cuisine from surfing destinations around the world, as well as lighter grab-and-go fare.

“Building a commercial kitchen is not an easy endeavor,” Sullivan said. “There’s a lot more that goes on than meets the eye, so, overall, we’re just glad that everything is up and running. We had a great turnout, and it seems like we got a pretty good reception. We’re looking forward to the upcoming weeks.”

Despite the postponement of the fireworks show last Friday, and choppy water on the Saturday rain date once again preventing the display, the Arts and Crafts Festival — from Long Beach to Edwards boulevards on Saturday and Sunday — helped business for Riptides, which was situated in the fair’s epicenter, according to Ian Danby, a Chamber of Commerce board member.

“Brian [Braddish] over at Riptides was making a killing this weekend at the street festival with the arts and crafts show,” Danby said. “I go past him every morning at 7 a.m. and he’s setting up before anybody else, so I think they’re doing pretty well.”

Before the summer began, the city projected that the food carts, trucks and stations would net $181,500 in revenue, which would more than double last year’s earnings. According to city officials, those projections are unaffected by the delay in opening some of the new concessions.

After all, with the return of the Shoregasboard food truck court at Riverside, touting tacos and more, as well as stationary and mobile carts offering waffles, ice cream and other treats, there is no shortage of choices.

“People seem to be loving the food,” Schnirman told the Herald. “I see a lot of people hopping on bikes and riding from one concession to the other … and really eating their way through the boardwalk.”