Fourth of July to Bring Economic Boost to Shoreline

As we celebrate the red, white and blue, Connecticut businesses – especially those along the shoreline – are celebrating another color: green.

"It's definitely crazy," said Julia Keene at Ashley's Ice Cream shop in Madison. "The next morning, we'll be wiped out of all of our ice cream. That happened last year."

Keene has spent several Independence Day holidays scooping ice cream.

She said the store stocks extra inventory in preparation, also likely bringing back a most appropriate flavor, "Red, White & Blueberry," from Memorial Day.

Across the street, at Asiye's Boutique, there's plenty of summer wear for women. Manager Ashley Lizotte said the Fourth is an important time for the store to make hay.

"There's a lot of people out on the street. It's definitely a happy vibe, everybody's out and about," said Lizotte.

To capitalize on that foot traffic, Lizotte said, the store expands its displays to the sidewalk, happy to lure in customers.

"We like to put our stuff outside," Lizotte pointed out, "people just walking on the sidewalk. It's sort of brings them inside as well."

These are but a couple of examples of shoreline commerce gone wild this time every year. Nearby Hammonasset State Park sees them coming a long time in advance.

Retiree Rob Veilleux said spending time – and money – on the shoreline each Independence Day is a habit of many years, one by which he's learned the tricks of the trade regarding reservations.

"Eleven months to the day," he answered to the question of when he reserved his campsite to call home-away-from-home this holiday week.