Americans are returning to beach towns as COVID fades, but restaurants and stores are struggling with shortages. ⁠ ⁠ The reopening economy has intensified nationwide labor shortages and supply chain bottlenecks. It's forcing beach-area business owners to limit hours, substitute popular offerings and absorb sharp price increases.⁠ ⁠ And with worker shortages triggering longer waits and more customer complaints, some merchants are taking pains to protect the workers they have.⁠ ⁠ “I can afford to lose (customers) more than I can afford to lose” workers, says café owner Tony Smyth, gesturing to the clutch of hustling employees behind the counter.⁠ ⁠ Go to the link in bio to read more about wage increases and summer shortages.⁠ #Rehobothbeach #DeweyBeach #laborshortage #wageincrease #beachtowns