Memorial Day Weekend has always been a milestone for me. Back when I was a kid, our family vacationed at the Jersey Shore each summer, and Memorial Days was the official kick-off to summer — always full of anticipation and fun. But from the age of 15, that milestone took on more meaning as I officially started working in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Armed with that summer job, I had a first-hand view of what it took to run a business. From the start, I loved hospitality — the thrill of welcoming folks who’d chosen to spend their vacations with us. I also witnessed the angst of running a business — the fire inspections, code inspections, and pool inspections. The economic cycles and affordability fears. There were worries about cash flow, marketing, purchasing and maintenance.
But while the responsibilities of running a business may have appeared daunting, they were also thrilling. And so, after college, I returned to the Shore and began my official career in hospitality and tourism. As a year-round employee, I was mentored by managers and owners. I was an insider now. Each year, I reveled in the build-up to the tourism season – that frenzied rush as everyone readied their businesses for their summer debut.
I opened The Virginia Hotel in Cape May in 1989, and then took on the task of restoring and reopening the historic Congress Hal nearby. I grew my business from just 40 employees to multiple shops, restaurants, and hotels. Today, our team is 1,300 workers strong. As I think about my 36th Memorial Day as a small business owner, I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment, but I also worry about the ability of today’s young people today to find the same opportunities I enjoyed as an entrepreneur.
Simply put, regulations and red tape are strangling small businesses. The cost of goods and products are skyrocketing along with inflation. There are more licensees to apply for each and every year. Whether opening a new hotel or simply a lemonade stand, dreaming big has never felt tougher.
There are fewer owner-operators today, replaced by big corporations. With all the hurdles small businesses now face, there are fewer incentives to take the plunge. Even generational businesses are losing their next generations — parents not wanting to saddle their kids with the stresses they endured. Or the children wanting an easier life.
New Jersey is an especially difficult place to do business. Over regulated, over-taxed and one of the most expensive states in the nation, many entrepreneurs are seeking better opportunities in better places. Small businesses are on the front line of the economy. They hire teens and first-time employees. Yet, they do not have the advocates, nor the resources, to lobby against ill-conceived, one-size-fits-all legislation.
Just this spring, New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities approved a 20% across-the-board increase on electric rates for homeowners and businesses alike. In the state Legislature, a bill was proposed and considered to eliminate the tipped worker minimum wage — which would force restaurants and bars into a 200% increase in their wages. Additionally, this year’s state budget proposes raising taxes on alcohol and a number of recreational activities, ranging from bowling to laser tag to miniature golf.
Not surprisingly, NJBIA’s 2025 Regional Business Climate Analysis, shows New Jersey ranks dead last in the region in cost competitiveness and business taxes for a seventh consecutive year. A similar study by Wallet Hub ranks the Garden State as the third-worst state to start a business in 2025.
Last year, I drove 80,000 miles across New Jersey as a candidate for the United States Senate. I talked to voters of every party and demographic, and there was one common theme — they were all worried that their kids and grandkids would not be able to find opportunities in New Jersey. They were concerned that the next generation is unable to raise a family in the Garden State they call home.
Fortunately, the Jersey Shore is still made up of mostly small businesses. It is in the DNA of our culture, and the backbone of our communities. It’s not too late to reenergize our great Garden State. We need to trust our employers – the vast majority of small business owners are good, hard-working community minded people. We need to unshackle them from burdensome regulations. We must make our state more affordable — from energy, to housing, to taxes. To do this, we need to leave behind one-party rule and engage in a serious, constructive dialogue about our future.
So, as you enjoy this very special weekend, think about your favorite traditions along shorelines across the New York region. Thank those owners and hospitality workers who are there for you, and eager to serve you. And do your part to help bring New Jersey back from the brink by voting for practical, common-sense candidates in the upcoming primaries. I may not have won my Senate seat, but elections have never mattered more.
Curtis Bashaw is the owner of Cape Resorts.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
