Clouds cool down some businesses

Paul Clinton

Overcast June weather has had a chilling effect on local businesses

that cater to tourists and beachgoers, business owners said.

Bob Black, who runs daily charter tours to Catalina Island on the

Catalina Flyer, said his business has fallen between 8% and 10%

during the first three weeks of the month.

“There’s definitely been a dip in our business,” Black said. “When

the sun comes out, there’s a lot of activity down here.”

Black, operating under Catalina Passenger Service, runs a daily

trip to Catalina as well as hourly cruises around Newport Harbor

between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Even with the gloomy weather, guests haven’t been canceling their

reservations in local hotel rooms, a Four Season Hotel spokesman

said.

The hotel’s concierge, however, has been suggesting other

activities in Southern California that don’t involve a trip to the

beach. He has suggested a trip to the wineries in Temecula, a round

of golf at local courses or a day of shopping at Fashion Island, said

Jim Kennedy, a spokesman for the hotel.

“Some people did convert from more sun-oriented activities to

spend more time on the golf course,” Kennedy said. “Our spa has been

packed.”

Last week, the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau saw an

upswing in calls and visits from tourists asking for tips about local

activities.

The office fielded 500 requests for information, compared with 315

during the same week a year ago, said Marta Hayden, the bureau’s

executive director.

“Our numbers have been up,” Hayden said. “There are so many things

to do other than the beach.”

While some businesses are seeing a downturn, others say they

haven’t been as adversely affected by the weather.

With a string of appealing wave riding days, local surfers haven’t

stopped frequenting their favorites surf shops.

Chris Flowbee, manning the counter at the Frog House on Tuesday,

said the shop has been humming lately.

“We’ve had pretty good waves,” Flowbee said. “So when the waves

are good, our business is good.”

Weather forecasters have said the sun should ride high in the sky

this week, but gloomy times could lay ahead in early July.

“It’s looking really good this week,” said Steve Vandenburg, a

forecaster at the National Weather Service. “The clouds should be

high-tailing it out of here.”

Vandenburg added that he expects July to be “cooler than normal.”

Other business owners said they could be hurt if the overcast

weather persists.

Pam Hubbard, who owns The Persimmon Tree on Balboa Island, said

the weather hasn’t had an affect on her bikini sales so far.

“Not yet,” Hubbard said. “If it lasts all the way through August

it might.”

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].