LEWES, Del. - Beachin' Bash wants to set up bonfires for customers, but the city isn't giving them any more permits. Owner Jimmy Kirlin says they started hosting bonfires for people in the Roosevelt Inlet at the start of this summer.
The city says the goal wasn't to send anyone's business up in literal flames. Mayor Ted Becker says they're trying to be considerate of the people who live by the beach too.
"We want to support people and we want to grow and we want to grow by being a part of the community," Kirlin says.
Kirlin says he wants to create jobs and eventually offer free bonfires to people going through hard times.
Mayor Becker says the city wants to address the idea that there is a need for service on Lewes Beach, while considering concerns neighbors have raised about too much commercialization.
"We decided that we have an existing contract with Quest, which is on a trial basis, a two-year trial basis at this point, and we decided that we would like to see that play out, have reports back before we make any decision about expanding any commercialization on the beach," Becker says.
The city says when they were voting on which businesses would be able to continue operating on Lewes Beach, Beachin' Bash had not filed for a business license, but Kirlin says they aren't necessarily operating as a business.
"We're not transacting business here," Kirlin says. "We're not advertising. We're not handing out business cards. We're literally just carrying stuff up, setting up a bonfire for people. They come on. They enjoy the services. They have games or anything they can do and then we break it down and we make sure we leave the beaches cleaner than we found them."
Michael Fasano isn't convinced. He says he chose his bay front home in Lewes Beach a year ago for its tranquility.
"If they want to come and swim and surf during the day, yeah that's fine, that's what beaches are there for, but when you have a bonfire, you're partying and I'd rather not have parties in my backyard," Fasano says.
Mayor Becker says individual people can still apply for bonfire permits, but Kirlin wants to give people who want it a Beachin' Bash.
"People are like go get them Jim and no, it's not a battle," Kirlin says. "I want to work with them."
Kirlin says Beachin' Bash will keep getting permits for customers on other beaches, like Dewey and Ocean City. He says he hopes to meet with the city to come to an agreement to start bonfires on its beach again, not to add fuel to the figurative fire.