Queens, New York — A cold and rainy Memorial Day weekend left New York City beaches unusually quiet, disappointing local businesses that depend heavily on holiday crowds to kick off the summer season.
At Rockaway Beach in Queens, empty boardwalks and gray skies replaced the packed crowds typically seen during the unofficial start of summer, with only a handful of loyal locals braving the weather.
Rainy Weather Crushes Holiday Crowds
Persistent rain throughout the holiday weekend kept beachgoers away from popular destinations including Rockaway Beach and Jacob Riis Park.
According to the National Weather Service, the area near JFK Airport received nearly 2 inches of rain since Friday, contributing to the soggy conditions that ruined outdoor plans for many New Yorkers.
Local business owners said the washout couldn’t have come at a worse time financially.
Business Owners Fear Financial Impact
For many businesses along the Rockaway boardwalk, Memorial Day weekend is one of the most important revenue periods of the year.
Sean Aiken, owner of Seany Pizza near Beach 98th Street, said the difference between a successful holiday weekend and a rainy one can determine how the rest of the summer unfolds.
“There’s only really four big, big holiday weekends: Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July and Labor Day,” Aiken said. “And everyone gets half their revenue from those four big weekends.”
He explained how dramatic the financial drop was because of the bad weather.
“A good Memorial Day will be like $12,000 for us, and this weekend will probably ring up $1,000.”
Aiken added:
“Everybody knows if you have a tough summer, you have a tough year,” he said. “But I’m optimistic that the weather will turn around.”
Despite the gloomy conditions, he noted that Monday still brought the largest crowd the area had seen in days.
“This is the most people we’ve seen on the boardwalk in four days,” Aiken lamented.
Locals Refuse to Let Weather Ruin Holiday
While tourists stayed away, longtime Rockaway residents still turned out to support neighborhood events and businesses.
A small but energetic crowd gathered for the Rockaway Beach Day Parade, including local resident Ray Otton and his wife, Moe.
“Rockaway won’t stop for the weather,” Ray Otton said. “We’re out to enjoy the parade, and with this weather, they need our support.”
Others spent the day at local bars and restaurants despite the chilly temperatures.
At boardwalk spot Bar 97, Christa Bauer enjoyed drinks with her husband Chris and their dog Rose while joking about the gloomy forecast.
“I said it was too cold but, he said we’re doing it,” she said. “You can only do so much Netflix and chill.”
Surfers and One Brave Swimmer Hit the Water
Very few people actually entered the water during the cold holiday weekend, except for surfers and one particularly fearless teenager.
Kevin Paskewitz, a 14-year-old from Breezy Point, was reportedly the lone swimmer spotted in the chilly ocean waves.
“It’s good for you,” he said about the freezing water. “I go swimming all winter long. This is nothing for me.”
Even some beach workers admitted conditions were far from ideal.
An 18-year-old lifeguard named Justin sat bundled up in layers of clothing while watching over the nearly empty shoreline.
When asked whether he planned on entering the water, he quickly replied:
“Hell no! Too cold!”
Despite the rough start to summer, local businesses and residents remain hopeful that warmer weather — and bigger crowds — will soon return to New York City’s beaches.
Would you still visit the beach during cold and rainy weather? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
