News Summary
Virginia Beach anticipates a busy Labor Day weekend as local businesses aim to recover from a slower-than-usual summer season. Despite decreased summer tourism and hotel bookings, the upcoming holiday promises increased foot traffic to the boardwalk, town center events, and peak seasonal earnings. Events like Summer Fest 2025 and the upcoming music festival are expected to draw crowds, supporting local shops and restaurants. Business owners are optimistic about ending the season positively and preparing for the fall season, including efforts to recoup losses and capitalize on holiday tourism.
Virginia Beach is gearing up for a crucial Labor Day weekend that is expected to provide a much-needed boost to local businesses after a slower-than-usual summer season. Business owners across the area are hopeful that the long holiday weekend will help them meet their revenue targets and cap off the season on a positive note.
This year’s summer tourism has not met the expectations set by previous years, with many businesses reporting decreased crowds and fewer hotel bookings. The president of Coastal Edge, a popular retail shop in Virginia Beach, indicated that a successful Labor Day weekend could account for up to 20% of their overall revenue for August. Similarly, Debbie Lou Hague, manager of Ocean Eddie’s Restaurant, observed that there were noticeably less foot traffic and more vacant hotel rooms this summer compared to prior seasons, raising concerns about profitability among restaurant and shop owners.
The decline in tourism is believed to be influenced by various factors, including shifts in the overall economy which may have affected consumer spending patterns. Despite this, many restaurant employees are eager to capitalize on the busy weekend for peak-season earnings, reflecting the resilience and hope of the local workforce. Predictions suggest that Saturday and Sunday will bring the most significant influx of customers.
The boardwalk, a central attraction in Virginia Beach, has already shown signs of increased activity, with more visitors present on Friday than earlier in the week. Vacationers such as Hans Pedersen and his niece, Layla Grubb, have been observed actively spending on local fare, despite some expressing surprise at higher-than-expected prices for treats like ice cream. This spending is critical to supporting the local economy as the city approaches the end of summer tourism.
As businesses prepare for the influx of visitors, the Virginia Beach Town Center is also hosting Summer Fest 2025, a vibrant event featuring live music through the Labor Day weekend. Live concerts take place Thursday through Sunday nights, showcasing local bands and guest acts including KABOOMBOX and Millennial Band. In light of these events, restaurants in the Town Center are offering outdoor seating and food specials, encouraging patrons to dine while enjoying the entertainment. Additionally, free parking and Wi-Fi are provided, with garage parking recommended to accommodate the expected crowds.
Although the summer season has fallen short in terms of hotel occupancy—reported down by 20%—many Oceanfront businesses still enjoyed a good flow of customers during peak events. For example, Harvest Restaurant experienced consistent traffic during special events, including sand soccer tournaments that brought visitors to the area. Employees from the restaurant noted that this summer felt less crowded than usual, with cooler water temperatures and economic reasoning likely contributing to the slower foot traffic.
As the Labor Day weekend draws near, local businesses are looking to maximize opportunities in the hopes of recovering from the sluggish summer. Following the holiday weekend, business operations are expected to return to typical off-season levels, making this weekend a critical time for many establishments. The excitement is palpable for more upcoming events, including the much-anticipated music festival “Something in the Water,” scheduled for October 12, which may help further draw crowds back to Virginia Beach in the fall.
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Additional Resources
- WTKR: Virginia Beach Business Owners Hopeful for a Successful Labor Day Weekend
- Google Search: Virginia Beach businesses
- 13News Now: Summer Fest 2025 Brings Live Music to Virginia Beach Town Center
- Google Scholar: Virginia Beach tourism
- WAVY: Busy Weekend for Virginia Beach Oceanfront Businesses Following Big Summer Events
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Virginia Beach
- WTKR: Sale of VB City Property Could Impact Several Small Businesses
- Google News: Virginia Beach events
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VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your trusted source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with comprehensive coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—supported by years of expert reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while offering top reporting on high-profile events like the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and military homecoming celebrations, alongside key organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and Oceana Naval Air Station, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense like Busch Gardens and Northrop Grumman, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREWilliamsburg.com, providing credible, in-depth insights into Virginia's vibrant landscape. HERE Virginia Beach HERE Williamsburg
