LEWES, Del. - Downtown Lewes is offering free morning parking until Labor day.
"We asked council if they would consider offering free parking in the morning as an incentive to bring people back, and especially to thank our locals for supporting us and giving them an opportunity to support the businesses, and not have to pay for parking. And they very generously and said yes," says Executive Director of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, Betsy Reamer.
Free morning parking was only supposed to last until June 15th, but "we went back to them in advance of June 15th, and asked if they would extend it throughout the summer, because we noticed the first couple of weeks of June that business was still very slow," says Reamer.
Parking will be free from 9 a.m. to noon.
Michiko Seto says businesses and the chamber of commerce all came together on a zoom call.
"My suggestion was when we first started, what about getting us some free time in the morning, maybe get more retired people down here, locals come in before the tourists, feel safe," says Michiko Seto, owner of Blooming Boutique.
Extending free morning parking to the end of summer also plays a role in the city's Love, Lewes campaign.
"It's a love letter to our locals, and supporters, and customers, and they have generously done the same thing. The yard signs for the campaign went on last week and they sprouted up all over the place," says Reamer.
Seto says she appreciates the effort the city has made.
"And for the city ... they're really helping us businesses out a lot, because we have a lot to make up and trying to make up for the season."
The free morning parking does not apply to beach parking, only the city's commercial district.
