Businesses in Niantic say the hot weather contributed to a successful 2018, which may have even surpassed their success in 2017.
"We’re a weather-based business," said Grady Clark, the owner of Dad’s Restaurant, a seasonal seafood and ice cream staple along the Niantic boardwalk.
On this day, Clark is counting down the hours to closure for the 2018 season. He always ends the year on Labor Day at 8 p.m.
He’s sad to see 2018 go, however, because it’s been one of the busiest in his six years owning the restaurant.
"The beginning of the season, it wasn’t that great, only because of the rain, it was kind of cool. But right after Mother’s Day, everything shot up and was absolutely terrific."
Down the boardwalk is Blackhawk Sport Fishing, a company that charters fishing trips out into the Long Island Sound.
CJ Adams, who works as a mate on one of the company’s charters, says he could not believe the heavy flow of customers throughout 2018. He said every day of the week Blackhawk had difficulty keeping up with demand.
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Labor Day was no exception, Adams said.
"Normally on holidays we get a lighter crowd, everyone’s picnicking, but today for some reason we were full full full, turned some people away, too."
He anticipates the good business will continue into the winter when the company offers cod fishing, and said he expects 2019 could see even more growth.
"We’ve had to turn away quite a few customers over the past couple of weeks and throughout the whole summer as well. Things have been looking up and each and every year gets better and better."
