Some restaurant owners say they're beginning to feel a dip in overall sales for food and alcohol, according to Susan L. Jones, executive director of the city's hotel and restaurant association.
"It's very mixed, and it depends on who you're talking to," said Jones. "But there's no question that customers are cutting costs."
"Now we're beginning to see that the average of each check at restaurants is getting lower," she said. "It's an indication that people are really being careful. They seem to be cutting back."
But the economy also is bringing new visitors. Dale and Trudy Waite of Kinzers, Pa., said they usually vacation in Florida.
"Of course, we have an SUV, and it would cost a fortune in gas," Dale Waite said.
And with business off at his landscaping company, the couple decided it was best to stay at Trudy's father's place in Fenwick Island, just up the road in Delaware.
"We can't afford Florida this year, but we can still get a break from everything," Waite said. "Everybody needs that."
By yesterday, about half the city's hotels and motels reported they were booked up for the long Fourth of July weekend.
Hoteliers say tourists increasingly scour the Internet for the cheapest prices until the last possible minute.
But with Independence Day falling on a Friday, merchants said they were confident the city will bring in more than 300,000 visitors for the weekend.
Rudolph Dolle, whose family has sold candies and other sweets to boardwalk customers for more than 100 years, says he's not concerned this year, regardless of bad economic news.
He has hired his summer staff of about 60 people, and they are ready for what is expected to be the busiest part of the season.
"Believe it or not, we've had a good year so far," Dolle said.
"As much as we hear about gas prices, I haven't seen it as a deterrent," he said. "Gas is a buck more than last year. To people in Baltimore, Washington, Pennsylvania, that's not a big deal. It's a tank of gas or maybe less."
If there's anything that's recession-proof in Ocean City, it's fudge.
Robin Derrickson, the boardwalk "fudge lady," says her business has been terrific so far.
"Nobody seems to be talking about the price of gas," said Derrickson, now in her 24th season whipping up treats for tourists. "As long as I keep cranking out the fudge, we'll be fine."
chris.guy@baltsun.com
