Labor Day Beach Economy

Mike Miceli served up a lot of pizza, hot dogs and ice cream at his beachfront snack bar this Labor Day weekend, but he says sales are down for the year.

"We're down about 11 percent over last year," says Miceli. "But it's somewhat better than some of the other merchants around here."

Miceli says Labor Day sales, however, were up 200 percent from last year.

"We had to evacuate because of Gustav last Labor Day," says Miceli.

Tourism is the backbone of South Baldwin County's economy and Labor Day visitors did their part to help break the recession.

"All the money I had, I spent it here. I'm going home completely broke," says Sherry Styron visiting Gulf Shores from Lake Charles. "I see just as many people spending money in the restaurants, in the clubs, it's very festive, everyone's upbeat, no one seems to be worried about the economy."

The final figures won't be in for a couple more weeks but all indications are the Labor Day weekend saved the summer for many struggling businesses on Pleasure Island.