Oceanfront shops report tough season

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Oceanfront businesses are hoping for a boost from Labor Day sales after a tough season.

For many tourists, this weekend will be the last time they rinse off the sand. Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer at Virginia Beach.

Families are enjoying these last few moments of vacation, trying out new activities and taking advantage of end of summer sales at retail shops.

Businesses are happy tourists are spending money, and occasionally more than they intended.

"We've got credit cards! We're good!" said Ryan Bryant, who was visiting with his family from Charlottesville.

Like other beach shops, Old Time Photo on Atlantic Avenue has had a tough year. Many weekends in the middle of the season didn't meet sales goals.

"This year, business has been kind of slow," said Ali McLure, who has worked as a photographer at Old Time Photo for six years. "But then, this weekend, it started to pick up."

McLure says business is slow when the sun is shining because the boardwalk is the big draw.

Both the Rock and Roll Half Marathon and the American Music Festival brought huge crowds to the beach this weekend.

Bryant says he brought his family to see one of the concerts.

"Just because you guys had a good concert, we love to come here to see it," he said.

When the headliner Train played early Sunday night because of rain, fans spent the extra hours of the night eating and shopping.

Hopefully, it's enough to bring them back again next year.