The 1000 block of Asbury Avenue in Ocean City, NJ, marks one end of Asbury Avenue's diverse retail district.
I am writing this letter in response to a lot of the comments I have seen in various stories on OCNJ Daily. I keep seeing comments from readers saying more locals need to start patronizing our businesses. I keep seeing comments from readers saying locals need to go out to eat more on the island. To shop more on the island. To use the services more on the island.
Personally, I would like to see the talk end and the action begin!
I use every resource in Ocean City I can. I try to patronize an Ocean City business before searching off-island. It’s to the point where the only recurring purchases I know I have to make off-island are golf balls (I’m good at finding water hazards and the woods but bad at finding my ball in them, so this is quite the recurring purchase for me).
I don’t talk about supporting our businesses, I patronize them.
But I’ll raise my own commitment. In order to support our local businesses, I pledge to go out, sit down and enjoy a meal in an Ocean City restaurant every other Friday, starting this Friday.
And it is my hope that others will do the same, to patronize our local businesses. Perhaps by joining me in continuing to shop in town whenever possible and dining at our local restaurants.
Ed Sheppard
Ocean City
