THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505180291
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Resort businesses have made a concerted effort to roll out the welcome mat for locals this week.
It's all part of a ``residents appreciation week'' observance, sponsored by the city and associations representing innkeepers, restaurateurs and shop keepers.
``We want to see 'em come down and enjoy their beach - kind of like the old days when the Oceanfront was the shopping center for the beach,'' said Rick Anoia, president of the Resort Leadership Council, an umbrella organization for the city's hospitality industry.
In fact, said Anoia, it was the leadership council that first came up with the idea of trying to coax locals to the Oceanfront as a goodwill gesture.
Traditionally, relations between residents of inland areas of the city and resort merchants have been strained because of a perceived tendency by Oceanfront business owners to cater exclusively to out-of-town visitors.
More than 30 resort businesses have offered discounts of up to 20 percent on purchases at their shops, restaurants and taverns to any Virginia Beach resident who appears at the the Oceanfront this week (through Sunday) with the proper identification.
The city is getting into the act as well, offering free daylong parking to Virginia Beach residents at municipal lots at 19th and 25 streets and Pacific Avenue.
Only resort hotels are absent from the list of businesses offering discounts, mainly because most of them already were booked at the time planning for the ``appreciation week'' campaign got under way, said Anoia.
``We're going to have an appreciation week in the fall for locals,'' said Anoia, ``only we're going to include the hotels and motels.''
For the remainder of this week city residents who have a driver's license bearing a bona fide Beach address and a clipping of an advertising coupon that appeared in the Beacon this week, can park, eat and drink for a little less than they would have at any other time of the year.
They'll also be able to take in a series of free ``beach music'' concerts, featuring nationally known acts, offered at the 24th Street Park stage tonight, Saturday and Sunday. by CNB