Rehoboth extends Meterless Mondays through end of season

Meterless Mondays in Rehoboth Beach will continue through the rest of the parking meter season.

During a special meeting Aug. 28, Rehoboth Beach commissioners voted unanimously in favor of extending the business-friendly promotion to include Monday, Sept. 7 and Monday, Sept. 14. Parking is free from 4 to 10 p.m. 

At the request of the business community, commissioners first approved the promotion during a special meeting in July. As approved, it was scheduled to end Monday, Aug. 31. Parking meters in Rehoboth Beach run through Sunday, Sept. 20. 

Mayor Paul Kuhns said the feedback he’s received has been positive and city staff said it wouldn’t be an issue logistically.

Carol Everhart, Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said she’s had a couple dozen calls from downtown businesses asking her to request an extension of the promotion. That’s a pretty high number, so it means it’s working, she said.

Commissioner Lisa Schlosser called the extension a no-brainer and suggested making the promotion a permanent part of the city’s operation moving forward. For years now, Dewey Beach has held a similar promotion, allowing free parking after 5 p.m., Monday-Wednesday, through the entire summer.

Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski said Rehoboth Beach Main Street also supported the extension. He said in July, he had been hesitant to have the promotion run past August because he was hopeful business and tourism was going to increase; however, that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

Chrzanowski encouraged business owners to request that their employees park a few blocks away so visitors could take advantage of the promotion.

After a two-week hiatus, commissioners will resume their special reopening sessions with a meeting at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1.