VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — On Sunday, several people took advantage of the nice weather and danced outside of De Rican Chef, a Puerto Rican restaurant near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
“We had a really big turnout. The biggest turnout we’ve ever had here," said Assistant General Manager Katrina Flores.
The restaurant, located near the intersection of Arctic Avenue and Virginia Beach Boulevard, is just a few blocks away from the Oceanfront. The restaurant team waited two years to open due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Flores, and their opening weekend fell on College Beach Weekend.
“Because it took so long to do the construction of this restaurant, people are still finding out that we’re even open. So having the grand opening during College [Beach] Week was awesome to be able to say we’re finally here," Flores said.
However, Il Giardino Ristorante manager Maryanne Carr said the crowds for this year’s event looked different than in the past.
“Actually we didn’t see much this weekend, college week. I didn’t see much foot traffic at all. So I think it was not as many people as they anticipated," Carr said.
The City of Virginia Beach anticipated nearly 30,000 people along the Oceanfront for the three-day span. Despite the smaller crowds, police maintained a heavier presence and monitored the streets.
Multiple restaurant owners told 13News Now they are still dealing with staffing issues, and they hope to get more workers before a potentially busy summer season.