CAMDEN, Maine — Most see bumper-to-bumper traffic as a detriment, but for business owners up and down Maine’s coast, scant parking, longer commutes, and packed roadways mean profit.
For weeks, the streets of Camden have been busy leading many establishments to anticipate 2024 to be one of the most profitable yet.
Todd and Sarah Anderson have owned the French & Brawn grocery store for 30 years. Open every day of the year except Christmas, they were surprised to see business pick up as quickly as it did in the early days of June.
“This season started off early. Usually it's middle to end of June that it starts to get busy. But it seemed to start the first week of June, and now since July hit it’s been even crazier,” Todd Anderson said.
Anderson theorized that an unseasonably warm June and high airline costs are likely the cause for the early-season boom. He said he thinks that's why the Fourth of July weekend was the busiest one in years.
A half-block north along Main Street is Maine Seaside Treasures owned by Connie Sawyer. She, too, is seeing a great turnout.
“Business is up. Traffic today is amazing. Yesterday was amazing. We are just lucky to have so much going on,” Sawyer said.
Sawyer attributes cruise ships docking in Rockland and sending buses of passengers to Camden to her rise in sales. During the week, she estimates 50 percent of her sales are because of cruise ships.
Record sales are also happening down the street at The Smiling Cow Boutique. The Camden mainstay for 84 years is on track to have its best year yet.
Boutique workers Pam Brown and Andi Hamalainen guess that concerns about COVID-19 are far enough from people’s minds to encourage them to travel freely.
“There’s just tons of people. It’s hard to keep up with all the sales. It’s been very busy,” Brown said.
New businesses are also riding the summer’s economic wave. On a quiet street a short walk from downtown, Rick Johnson and his partner Charles Luna opened Hideaway Inn two months ago and have had no shortage of customers.
“The two months have been amazing," Johnson said. “We are at about 85 percent capacity for the month of July and at about 75 percent for August. It’s turned out really well.”
For tourists, the reasons for visiting are simpler: Camden is just a good place to be.
Since getting engaged in Acadia in 2010, Jennifer Rutland and her husband have traveled from their home in Georgia to Maine. The couple, now with two sons, have seen much of the state. However, for the past few years, Camden has been a necessity.
“It’s just so sweet. We love it. It’s kinda a sleepy little town,” Rutland said. “Good restaurants, great coffee spots, ice cream for the kids. I mean it’s perfect.”
Whether it’s warmer days, expensive flights, cruise ships, or simply the picturesque scenery of the coast, Camden is expected to stay busy all summer long.
Coming events such as the Camden Shakespeare Festival kicking off Wednesday and the Camden Classics Cup July 25-27 will continue to bring in fresh visitors.