The Latest Scoop

The boats are coming back to the bay, stores are starting to open and weekend tourists are stretching their winter legs on Commercial Street. Nothing screams “the season has begun!” like the opening of Cafe Heaven, Spiritus Pizza and The Red Inn.

Provincetown business owners report that there is no shortage of employees looking for work this summer. Restaurants, guesthouses and retail shops have fully staffed all positions. They are not experiencing the shortage of workers encountered last year due to the issues with the H2B visa program. The jobs are being filled by a mixture of international students and Americans laid off looking for work. In some cases, family members are working to help support businesses in order to cut costs.

The economy is a big concern for local businesses this summer as the recession continues. Due to the largest national unemployment rate in 26 years, there is anxiety on Commercial Street about who will be coming here to spend money. Three separate guesthouse owners told me that previous customers are calling and looking for work. The customers who were previously six figure salaried professionals are offering their services to clean rooms, wait tables or work reservations.

Townsend Lobster and Seafood has purchased the building formerly occupied by Clem and Ursie’s restaurant on Shank Painter Road in Provincetown. Mac’s Seafood of Wellfeet will be part owner of the property; however the business will operate exclusively as Townsend Lobster. There are no details on the selling price of the property other than that it was sold for significantly less than the $2.5 million listed price. Townsend Lobster which is located on Fisherman’s Wharf will be open for business on June 15th.

Items recovered from an April 2007 jewelry store robbery was returned to the store’s owner. Thirty one pairs of earrings, eight necklaces, fifty seven rings and two gold pendants are back in the store’s inventory. The three thieves were apprehended by police soon after the crime and are still in jail.

The AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod is a co-sponsor in a health forum being held at The Provincetown Theatre on May 8th at 2PM. The guest speaker will be John Auerbach the Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Issues to be discussed include program changes for health organizations and funding. The event is free and open to the public. 

Next week, I’ll check in with The Vixen, Post Office, Art House and Crown and Anchor to see what’s on the menu for entertainment this year.

Thanks for reading and check back next week. This blog is updated every Friday. If you have questions send me an email mike.dubour@verizon.net.