May 30, 2008

Northwoods appeal, family traditions drive start of summer seasonBy Eric JohnsonLakelandTimes.com

While much has been made in the press of record high gas prices, which topped the $4 per gallon mark last week, extra pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters at the pump seemed to do little to deter Memorial Day tourism traffic through the Northwoods.

And while questions and concerns linger over the impact of gas prices on discretionary purchases, retail sales for the extended Memorial Day weekend were largely positive, albeit somewhat mixed, throughout the Lakeland area.

At the 486-member Minocqua-Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Area Chamber of Commerce, executive director Diane Hapka said an informal chamber poll of member businesses found encouraging sales trends, with many restaurants surveyed turning in sales gains of 12, 20 and even 50 percent over prior-year levels.

“They’re holding their own and they’re optimistic,” Hapka said of chamber member businesses.

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