Surf's up! Tourists bring business

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WECT) - Memorial Day weekend is considered the start of the summer tourist season, but it's starting early for local beachside businesses.

Steven Mangiacapre of CB Surf Shop in Carolina Beach said the store expanded in anticipation for the summertime rush.

"It's been kind of should-to-should," said Mangiacapre.

From short boards to long boards and everything in between, tourists can find their beach essentials at stores like CB Surf Shop. In fact, Mangiacapre said his biggest seller is clothing.

"I think a lot of people walking around town lose their flip flops," he said,  "So yeah, flip flops are one of our biggest sellers."

While CB Surf Shop expands its inventory, Tony Silvagni's Surf School reaches new customers on the Internet.

Director John Curry said the school is so popular that it now takes reservations online.

"Business is doing good," said Curry, "This is probably the busiest time of the year."

Carolina Beach already has a vibrant surfing community, but it's the out-of-town wave riders that make summer so profitable.

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