Keith Sanchez

Deno’s Wonder Wheel in Coney Island has been a can’t miss attraction since it was built in 1920. 100 years later, no one can even celebrate its anniversary because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coney Island, a small neighborhood in Brooklyn known for its amusement park, beaches and boardwalk restaurants, took a big hit this summer with the lack of customers due to the pandemic.

Coney Island thrives during the summer. People come from all over the city to relax on the beach and boardwalk, enjoy the rides and eat some delicious food. However, with COVID-19 people have been afraid to leave their homes and look for safer ways to enjoy the summer. Shift manager Jessica Rose told Pix 11 News, ” It’s hard because there is no tourism. And 75% of our business came from tourism.” Coney Island’s “big season” usually starts Easter weekend and slowly begins to calm down around the end of September.

The loss of customers makes Coney Island lose what makes it so special. Dennis Vourdeis, owner of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park told gothamist.com, “This place should be teeming with children running around, having fun on the rides, screaming, music playing; sounds of all the rides making noise, smell of cotton candy and popcorn in the air and pizza…It’s just totally surreal right now.” The owner of Luna Park Alessandro Zamperla also reported his summer blues to gothamist.com: “This year was supposed to be our best year…we have not generated $1 in revenue since October 2019.

As the summer comes to an end and children return to school all the businesses of Coney Island can do is sit and wait for next spring.