FMB businesses describe tourist season as ‘flat’

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FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- The crowds are clearing as season comes to an end on Fort Myers Beach.

Despite murky water plaguing the coast and numerous construction projects on the island, local businesses say their profits didn’t take too much of a hit this time around.

“The beach kind of got hit with a super storm,” said Bill Freeman, owner of Smokin Oyster Brewery on San Carlos Boulevard. “Once season got going, it was a short, good season but I consider the whole season to be flat, not as positive as the last seven years.”

“This season we did well, there were some factors that made season a little different than last year,” said Maredith Rizzo, social media manager for the Pink Shell Resort.

Besides the water issues related to Lake Okeechobee, businesses were affected by the Estero Boulevard construction as well as an early Easter and good weather up north.

“Overall we’re still busy, we still did well,” Rizzo said.

Despite the Pink Shell Resort saying they had a good season, the resort reported between $250,000- $500,000 in losses as a result of the fresh water releases through a questionnaire distributed by the state asking how businesses were affected by the releases.

The Pink Shell also told the state they had to temporarily lay off 12 employees.

“There were some questions from repeat guests who come year after year, the water did look different than it has in previous years,” Rizzo said.

Some businesses remain concerned over the possibility of losing tourists next year if the water is once again brown and murky.

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