OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The tourist season began with a slow start, say local merchants, but with sunny skies and warm weather in July, they are optimistic that the overall season will be a good one.

Both Michael Bouffard, owner of the Normandie Oceanfront Motor Inn, and Bud Harmon, executive director of the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce, described last year as “a banner year.”

Bouffard said like last year, it was a little slow in the beginning of the summer, and there was a “struggle with the weather” in June. When the “heat turned on” in July this year, business picked up, he said, and he’s hoping that like last year, it will continue through August. He said business looks good through the third week of August, after which business typically slows down before the beginning of the school year.

Harmon said despite the slow start, he believes business is now doing well, though it’s hard to tell now how the season as a whole will end up.

“August will tell everything,” said Harmon. “That will tell the story.”

Pamela Outwin, manager of ToeGoz flip-flop shop, and Fred Golder, manager of Palace Playland, reiterated what others said about the beginning of the season.

“We got off to a very slow start, but it’s picked up considerably,” said Golder, who said the last two weeks have been better than July 4 weekend.

Outwin said she thinks her store is doing “a little bit better” than last year. When it’s hot, she said, people like to shop, and she saw business pick up in July.

“It’s been very good for us this month,” she said. “I think we’re going to have a pretty good August.”

Golder said he doesn’t think they’ll do as well as last year, which was an extremely good year, but said business has been pretty solid. “If it’s close to last year, we’re not going to complain,” he said.

Golder said the extreme hot weather has kept people away from the park during the day, but visitors are lining up at the rides at night and enjoying the park in the evenings when it is cooler. The hot weather has also allowed him to sell a lot of water and sodas.

Sharon Prosser, a staff person at Dickinson’s Candy, said business has been good this year.

She said on sunny days, it slows down during the day, but it gives them time to stock the shelves for the evenings, when business picks up and the store is busy.

Luca Pizzuti, who opened Roma Pizza last year, said business has been up 100 percent this year from last.

“For us, it’s a terrific season, better than last year,” he said.

Like others, he said he’s anticipating success in August as well.

Pizzuti said that though many people may be curbing back on their expenditures due to the economy, they are still spending money. People may buy a pizza and share drinks instead of buying individual drinks, or just buy a pizza without beverages, he said.

Back at the Normandie Oceanfront Motor Inn, which Bouffard said his family has owned since 1967, many families still come year after year. Families may be cutting back on spending due to the economy ”“ for example, he’s seen more families at the hotel this year eat in instead of going out to eat ”“ but they’re still finding the money to go on vacation, he said.

“Everyone needs that time away,” he said.

Harmon said people are still coming to Old Orchard Beach, though some may choose to come two to three days instead of a full week. As always, the town is seeing a lot of Canadian tourists.

Harmon said the Canadian dollar is working in the favor of Canadian tourists. Some people call and pay balances in advance depending on the exchange rate, he said.

The price of gas isn’t a huge issue, said Harmon, as most tourists coming to Old Orchard Beach are a tank of gas away, and the price of gas is cheaper in the United States than it is in Canada.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.