It has been over eight months since the BP disaster struck the Gulf of Mexico. We decided to check back in with three shops in Pensacola, Florida; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and Galveston,Texas to see how things are going for holiday.
Johnny McElroy, Blonde John’s Surf and Skate, Gulf Shores, Alabama
How is business?
It’s still down. We were hoping to have a better Christmas, but people tend to wait until the last minute to shop here. I know a lot of parents will wait two to three days before Christmas to get their kid a skateboard or skimboard.
How’s traffic in the area?
A lot of people got their BP checks and took off since there are no jobs. We are so seasonal here. We make all our money in summertime so most of our customers left to seek other financial opportunities where there wasn’t an oil spill.
Is there still oil on the beaches?
Yeah. I had a skim contest a month ago and we had some oil. This is gonna’ be a lifetime thing. My son is two years old and he is gonna’ have to deal with it. A kid brought in his skim board the other day and it had oil on it. People still see oil from the Exxon Valdez but that was not really in a tourist area. Wildlife was affected but this is also affecting our community.
Have you guys had any good surf?
Yeah. Tomorrow is supposed to be really good. That’s one thing that is good.
We had a pocket of oil wash up a mile and half from my store but haven’t seen it in a while. Every time the surf picks up, though some oil washes up. If there is a southwest or southeast swell, even if it only brings knee high waves, some oil will come up. Not huge patches, but the Gulf is a big body of water so stuff is still out there.
Have people forgotten about the spill? Are there still workers from BP in the area?
Oh yeah, They have these machines that are scooping it up and they dig four feet down and it cleans it and heats it and replaces the sand. There are still cranes and all kinds of machinery everywhere. They are still working on it so I give them credit for that.
Hopefully they are gone by spring because who wants to come down to the beach and lay out with a bunch of heavy machinery? Like I said before though there are a good amount of people in town still working in it (cleaning the spill). They haven’t left us high and dry.
See Page 2 for more from Blonde John’s, Innerlight
Has BP settled any claims? Are you still filing?
Yeah, we are still filing. The paper work will come in tomorrow and you have to re-file. It’s a mess. My accountant had to write a letter to people I owe money to. People in California think the oil is gone; so it’s back to business. But when you suffer that much during the one season you make money, it really takes it toll.
I am still filing to pay companies off. A credit collector will call me from California and I have to tell them to watch the news. The money I have received is only money to keep my doors open. I’m not going to name anyone, but some people just don’t understand the catastrophic effect of this. Every single business is suffering still.
Have any surf companies reached out?
Rip Curl has been really good to me. I have been sending every company some money…what I can. But it is affecting what I eat at night. Yeah, its back to ramen noodles. Hurley has been understanding and then there are companies whose accounting people have been harassing me and I send money when I can. Vans has been good too. They have actually stepped up the plate and helped with contests. And they have some compassion.
The companies with compassion are the ones I’ll continue to business with. A few companies have turned me into attorneys. The attorneys are a little more understanding because they actually watch the news.
But it’s not on national news anymore so everyone is under impression that things are all good. I want to do business with these guys for the next 10 years but if they throw me under the bus and scream and yell, I don’t know if I can. It’s hard enough being a small business owner, and we have never had this happen.
How are holiday sales going?
There are probably on par with last year. We are fighting two evils: an oil spill and a tattered economy.
I am hoping to be up. Right now I am 0.19% up, but today hasn’t been a good day and we have head high surf and the water is low 60s. We have a skate contest this weekend and we’re doing stuff before Christmas to encourage kids to come shop with us instead of buying online. We also give back to the community.
Any surprises or things to note?
We are gonna’ pay you… as soon as we get paid. We are now waiting on the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. It’s not BP anymore. They give you a number. You check your number and they let you know if you are denied or getting money.
I know people who have been milking the system and weren’t affected and they got money. Then there are people who work beach services and they filed claims and they didn’t get compensated at all the way they should have. I have gotten some money, not all of it. I have a great accountant and I am fortunate. But I just want to get the pay out and be done with it. The proof is in the pudding and I haven’t seen the pudding yet.
See Page 3 for an update from Innerlight
Shannon Hampton, Innerlight Surf Shop, Pensacola, Florida
How are things?
Well, spirits are still up but business is still down. I guess what we feared would happen, happened. We kind of rely on the summer business to get us through the winter, and it has been rough.
Is business up or down?
Business is definitely down, more in some of our locations then others.
Is there still oil on the beaches?
Occasionally you will hear of oil hitting the beaches, but I think for the most part it has cleared up a lot.
Have you guys had any good surf?
Actually, we have had some pretty decent surf so that is good. Some people are scared of the water still so it’s still detouring some.
Have people forgotten about the spill? Are there still workers from BP in the area?
Well, the people here haven’t forgotten, that’s for sure. People are definitely struggling to make ends meet still. I haven’t seen any personally, but I know there are still some because I hear things on the local news.
Has BP settled any claims? Are you still filing?
A lot of people have gotten the first payment (six months emergency payment). Some people (especially the young kids without bills) have been spending it on boards, and clothes, so that has helped a little. But a lot of people who got the money have bills to pay, mortgages, and car notes, so really it has just been playing catch-up for them.
Have any surf companies reached out?
I personally haven’t heard from any companies. Most of them have been pretty nice though about extending dating, and things like that, so every bit helps.
How are holiday sales going?
They are going, not as busy as past years, but we are still making it.
Any surprises or things to note?
Standup paddle boarding is still doing very well for us. We are holding a charity winter paddle race soon and that has helped us. Honestly, it is kind of like after a hurricane, everyone is really supporting local business and wanting everyone to stick this out. I myself have noticed that I have really tried to shop and eat local at small, privately owned businesses more when I can, and I hope to encourage others to do the same!
William “Boog” Cram, Ohana Surf and Skate, Galveston, Texas
How are things this holiday for you?
Historically speaking we are up to par, this week we are ever so slightly up. Retail on the island overall has been down 20% over the last two quarters and beyond. Local numbers started to show a very small, maybe 3% increase. So overall we are probably 17% behind. Restaurants and bars have fared a bit better. Since people are staying closer to home.
What’s selling?
We are mostly selling hardgoods: wetsuits, surfboards, skateboards, and shop tees and clothing from O’Neill, Volcom, Billabong and Hurley.
How has the spill affected you guys?
We as Gulf residents will be affected for many years because we still don’t know what the repercussions of the hydrocarbons that have settled on coral heads at deeper depths.
I have a lot of NOA and marine biologists friends who come in and these are the things that are table talk for us. For us, it’s more of an environmental concern than how it affects business.
We in Galveston weren’t ever affected with tar balls and oil on our beaches and we have been through hurricanes so we can rebound, but our biggest questions Mother Nature will have to answer that for us.
