Long Beach Umbrella, Chair Rental Company 'Excited' For Summer

LONG BEACH, NY —After a Memorial Day weekend washout, beachgoers are itching to get the summer underway. Brian Berkery, owner of Beach Comfort, is also ready to welcome the flocks to the water following the dismal output 2020.

His business depends on it.

"We're very excited," Berkery told Patch. "We're prepared. We're ready to go."

Beach Comfort is a beach chair and umbrella rental company on the sand of Long Beach.

They are opened from Memorial Day until Labor Day and then "every hot day until the end of the summer," Berkery told Patch.

On weekdays they have their post at Edwards Boulevard and National Boulevard and five other spots throughout the beach on weekends to accommodate the expected large turnout.

This is Berkery's 13th year with this business, anticipating a resounding season after year 12 when non-residents weren't permitted on the beach during the weekends.

"[It] definitely put a damper on our business," Berkery said.

He caters to people traveling from out of town who don't want to lug their beach essentials.

Berkery, who has a separate full-time job in Long Beach, knows Beach Comfort is "important to my [staff of 25] that I have," Berkery said. "They're all college and high school students."

While they had not been vaccinated yet, his workers are all required to wear masks when interacting with customers. They also urge beachgoers to distance themselves from other parties in the sand.

Berkery's staffers are regularly expected to disinfect equipment. Precautions aside, being outside, "this is probably one of the safer places to be," Berkery said.

Making the way through the pandemic, he is anticipating big crowds will help his business stay in the black this summer.

"I'm hopeful. Right now, I'm happy to be alive," Berkery admitted. "I'm happy to be here. I'm happy my business is still functioning. Right now, I'll take whatever comes. We are grateful for everybody that comes to the beach."