Customers come in and tell Kelly Pearson, who owns Cowabunga’s along with her husband Matthew, that they’re excited to see so many families visiting. But after a year of trying to keep the business together amidst COVID, Pearson finds it hard not to focus on all the customers who aren’t there.

“Running a business has such high expenses,” Pearson said. “Just to be able to cover those expenses you need more people.”