100 days since oil spill, beach businesses are optimistic

CLEARWATER -  

At the Anchor Mini Mart on Clearwater Beach owner Marlyn Tracey says little by little tourist are starting to back.

"We are thinking optimistically. We hope the next 100 days are better than the last," Tracey said.

Close by at the Barefoot Bay Resort people are starting visit Clearwater after they had canceled their reservations months ago because of the oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico that threatened Pinellas County beaches.

Warren Perry works at the the small hotel.
"I had one guy in fact he is due in today. He canceled in June because of the oil but he reinstated his reservation," Perry said.

Some of the bigger hotels are struggling. At the Tradewinds Island Resort, officials believe they have lost nearly $2 million in revenue because of the Gulf Oil Spill.

Keith Oveton, the resorts Senior Vice President and COO said, "July is turning out to be a pretty good month."

He says they will probably file a claim with BP for about $600,000.

Restaurants seem to be doing okay, but many owners say their that people are not coming out to eat like they use to.

Now that the well is capped, businesses along the beaches are hoping that they will bounce back.