By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

The snow banks are gone at Dock Square. The sidewalks, swept clear of sand, are dotted with sandwich boards declaring shops are open. Although Memorial Day weekend will officially kick off summer for the beachside community, spring is a time of reawakening for the seaside village of Kennebunkport.

While some stores were closed for the winter, others stayed open on weekends. However, in anticipation of spring break tourists armed with credit cards and cash, shop owners recently dusted their shelves and began filling them with new items. They added price tags to new products as well as clearance-priced merchandise left over from last season.

Last week, Kennebunkport Highway Department employees Ray Leskowsky and Kevin Paradis spent time raking gravel in front of the first public restrooms at Dock Square, which are expected to be open by Memorial Day.

This is good news for tourists and shopkeepers alike. For years, the lack of public restrooms sent tourists in Dock Square into shops looking for a restroom.

Flaming Gourmet Owner Joe Wrba said the public restroom was “long overdue.” He said tourists often came into his shop looking for a restroom, but because The Flaming Gourmet is a food store, he had to turn them away.

How many out-of-towners will be around to make use of the facilities this year is a matter of some debate among retailers. Although Wrba’s store, featuring different kinds of hot sauce, remained open on weekends throughout the winter, he is less optimistic about the upcoming tourist season than other shop owners, citing gas prices as the primary reason.

“I think gas prices will retard business,” he said, even as shoppers walked in the door.

Unlike last year, when rain put a damper on spring break shopping, unseasonably clear skies and warm temperatures through most of April welcomed visitors to the ‘Port, including William Montague of Halfmooon, N.Y. who sat on a bench outside American Sailor Company while his wife Judy shopped.

“We’ve been coming here for 25 years,” William Montague said. “I usually bring a book to read while she shops.”

A white carriage, drawn by Rockin Horse Stables draft horse Charlie, wound its way up Ocean Avenue for the second day this season.

At Old Salt’s Pantry, owner John Belyea filled coolers with bottled drinks.

“I’m just stocking up and waiting,” he said, but he did not wait long before greeting a group of four patrons.

Like most shop owners at Dock Square interviewed, Belyea said he doesn’t anticipate the rising gas prices to have a negative impact on business – it may even have the opposite effect. He said rising gas prices have affected the cost of airline tickets, keeping travelers along the East Coast closer to home. He also said he usually has an influx of Canadian visitors.

“The gas prices here are cheap to them,” he said. “As long as the weather is nice and the sun is out, people will come. After such a hard winter, people want to get out.”

Inside American Sailor Company, employee Jackie Maushart, folded a stack of shirts on the counter, while at Dock Square Clothing, Sales Associate Kathy Marshall welcomed shoppers. She said she hoped tourism would not be affected by gas prices.

“This year we are praying,” Marshall said with a laugh.

She said the store, which has been open for more than 20 years, relies on Canadians and tourists from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“It also helps that we have an established and repeating clientele,” she said.

Candy Man Manager Rob Heseltine was busy aligning a shelf stocked with sweets.

“We stay open all year so we don’t have the hustle and bustle of opening for the summer,” he said.

The candy shop has remained open during the off-season for the past five years and Heseltine said there were advantages to remaining open during the winter.

One winter he wasn’t open, a small problem turned into an expensive repair.

“The fire alarm was going off because the battery died,” Haseltine said. “The fire department broke down the door to replace a 9-volt battery.”

Haseltine said vendors are increasing their delivery rates due to rising diesel prices, but said the candy shop has not passed the increase on to its customers.

Amy Gaynor, owner of Carrots & Company said she is excited about the upcoming season and confident people would take day trips to the area rather than extended vacations overseas.

Gaynor said her store, featuring toys and “whimsical” gifts is what people need this time of year after a long hard winter.

As if transported from several months into the future, Anna Aldoy and Donald Moruzzi of Long Island, N.Y. sat on a bench enjoying ice cream cones. They said they normally travel to destinations within about four or five hours of home and although gas prices were up from last year, Moruzzi said they hoped to return later in the season.

“We love it here,” Aldoy said.

“It’s very mellow and relaxing,” Moruzzi said. “The hospitality here is great. Everyone is so friendly.”