Heat Leads Community to Cedar Beach, Ice Vendors

It’s not only the temperature that’s up.

Summer businesses are booming, beaches are packed and ice cream and ices are in high demand as people are looking to cool off.

At Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai, the parking lots were full Wedneday and the sand was littered with towels and umbrellas as crowds flocked to enjoy the water, the food, cool drinks and ice cream at Singleton’s Seafood Shack on the beach.

"It’s busier than usual because of the heat, more people are coming down with the children after school and late at night for ice cream, stuff like that, ” said owner Rick Mertz. “Rather than stay at home watching TV they’re out already which is good for me, it’s good for business. It’s been steady, usually it’s not this crowded until school is out so, so far so good.”

Mertz is in his second year at Cedar Beach.

“We’re really happy that we’ve been accepted by the community and hope it’s another good year,” he said.

Away from the beach, Mt. Sinai resident Patrick Mathe sat outside with his daughter to take a break from the heat.

“We’re trying to get the pool ready,” he said. “We just went over here ( to get pool supplies and came over here,” he said. “There was really no spring, so the heat came on fast.”

Ralph’s is now in its fourth season in Miller Place after opening its doors again in March.

“March and April wasn’t that great,” said the owner of Ralph’s. “But in the ice business anytime the weather is better, business goes up.”