By Cara Dahl, Staff Writer
Originally published July 30, 2010

BERLIN – People are coming to Berlin this summer despite the heat and the economy, a random sampling of business owners reported this week.

“We’re having a great summer. We’re very happy with the way things are going,” said Robin Tomaselli, co-owner of the new Baked Dessert Café.

Tomaselli credited the café’s business model, which stresses all natural ingredients, and the town’s promotions, for bringing people into the bakery.

The communal business atmosphere in Berlin also makes a difference, Tomaselli believes, with businesses referring customers to other town businesses.

“There’s a real sense of camaraderie,” Tomaselli said.

Veteran storeowner Toni Stuart, proprietor of Stuart’s Antiques, said she is noticing more customers and old customers coming back after a few years.

“It’s been real good since May…so far it’s much better than the last two summers,” Stuart said.

More people are coming to the beach, she said, but the weather has been too hot for sunbathing by the sea.

“The heat has brought a lot of people in,” Stuart said.

The town’s look brings attracts people, she said, with old buildings kept clean and in good repair.

Michael Day, Berlin’s economic development director, said that people are attracted to Berlin by things they do not even notice, such as the buried phone and electric wires.

“It’s a feel that’s just there,” Day said. “You don’t think about it but it makes the charm of the town come across.”

Blair Parsons, who operates TaDa with her mother, Patty Falck, said the first summer in TaDa’s new Main St. location has been a positive one.

“We’re having a fantastic summer,” Parsons said. “We’re seeing a lot of new customers.”

A lot of people seem to be exploring the town, according to Parsons.

“It’s been pretty busy every day, cloudy days, sunny days, it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference,” Parsons said.

Customers seem a mix of new and repeat visitors, she said.

“I think people just love the small town charm of Berlin,” Parsons said. “It’s so different from Ocean City. It’s a fun place to come for the day.”

Day observed that there has been a high amount of foot traffic in Berlin this summer.

“We’re a unique shopping destination,” said Day. “I think Lewes is the closest thing to compare to us.”

The town has gotten a lot of value from the Berlin Chamber of Commerce’s new office on Main St.

Berlin Council member Lisa Hall spent some time recently helping out at the chamber office.

“It’s amazing the people that come in. It’s being very well used. It’s being very helpful to the downtown area and the rest of Berlin,” said Hall.

Some people moving to the area have even come into the Berlin chamber office for information, Hall said.

In just four hours on a recent Monday, Day said, he counted 20 people coming into the chamber office for tourist information, from as far away as Pittsburgh and as close as Lewes and Kent Island.

At least 40 people stopped in front of the office to read the event posters in the window during the same time.

“I sent a bunch of people up to the museum. They just stumbled in looking for things,” Day said. “All of them said they were going to come back. It’s working our really well.”

Hall added, “A lot of good things are coming out of that office.”

Advertising and event hosting is also showing results because they show that there is life in the town, Day said.

“I think Berlin does a really good job of trying to bring tourists into Berlin with the Farmer’s Market and other events,” Tomaselli said.

“I think a lot of our promotion is paying off,” Day said.

Just this month Berlin brought out an updated “Runaway Bride” walking tour brochure.

“I think that’s going to bring in more bus traffic, which we’ve always been after,” Day said.

The new color “Runaway Bride” brochure has new locations and an improved map, showing shooting and production locations from the film. 

“There’s been quite a bit of interest in this, this spring and summer,” said Day.

The companies that run bus tours from Ocean City are particularly interested in Berlin’s “Runaway Bride” experience, Day said. He has also been contacted by a bus company from the Bronx that wants to bring 130 people to the area.

“Now they want to come over and take the “Runaway Bride” tour,” Day said.

RSS | Print This Article | Email To A Friend | Add To Favorites Comments