Most Havre de Grace restaurateurs and storeowners were disappointed by the lack of visitors during the town?s inaugural year of hosting the LPGA tournament.
“It was a ghost town here last year,” said Carrie Tharpe, an employee at The House Downtown.
The furniture store actually lost money because sales were so far below expectations.
The center of town is about three and a half miles from Bulle Rock, the golf course hosting the tournament. But many visitors have to park at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen and commute by shuttle.
The shuttle service is available Thursday through Sunday this year, compared to Saturday and Sunday last year, according to Bridget Layton, head of Havre de Grace tourism.
There are also five shuttle stops in Havre de Grace and a bus that is designated to take visitors between Ripken Stadium and Havre de Grace.
“The first year is everybody?s learning curve,” said Winifred Roche, Harford County?s head of tourism. “It?s our learning curve and the spectators. They?re getting to know what?s out there.”
Lou Ward, owner of the Bayou Restaurant and Tavern, immediately noticed the increase of shuttle buses that rolled through town and the visitors at shuttle stops near his restaurant.
Ward has seen a significant increase in business this year, and he was pleased at the local restaurant?s inclusion in the “Taste of Havre de Grace” dinner that the town hosted for the players and families.
“This year they?re really making Havre de Grace the place to be,” Ward said.
Some of the shops, on the other hand, are not faring as well. Sheila Stauffer, owner of Treasures By The Bay candy and gift shop, ordered golf paraphernalia and extended her store hours in anticipation of the tour.
She said that even with those provisions, progress since the tour came to town is “growing, but it?s slow.”
