03-06-2025
North East Marina business owners raise concerns over marina closure
The North East marina is typically full of boats by this time of year, but this time around, the marina is almost completely empty.
After a wall tumbled over in early April, the PA Fish & Boat Commission closed the marina indefinitely for repairs, and two months later, boaters are still unsure when they can get back in the water.
'I don't want to give up on North East. This has been here since 1989, I believe, and there's no reason for it to disappear. It's a great asset, and to redo it in today's money, you would never be able to afford to put this in,' said Michael Yori, a North East resident who has docked his boat at the marina for decades.
Wall collapses at North East Marina leaving future in question
Yori said he has already seen boaters taking their boats elsewhere, which is taking business away from the marina on East Lake there's still hope for the marina's open this summer.
'We are in the process of finalizing a sales agreement with the Authority, which will allow for repairs to move forward at the marina, and which will allow control of marina operations to be in the hands of the Authority,' said Mike Parker, communications director with the PA Fish & Boat Commission.
If the North East Marina Authority takes ownership of the marina, they would be able to finish repairs on the wall themselves.
North East Community Marina Authority taking over marina operations, release states
But as the marina remains closed, local business owners are missing out on the high foot traffic the marina gets during the warm months.
'I think it's unfair. All the money's going to Walnut Creek and nothing's coming over here to get this fixed and opened up for the public,' said JR Fuller, owner of NECM Bait & Tackle.
Fuller said he's down about $30,000 from the stall in business, but he's not the only business at the marina feeling the impacts.
'We definitely weren't expecting to be in June with no boats on the water, but so far we've been able to make it. I mean, we don't have as much business as normal, obviously. We don't have the traffic coming through, ' said Joshua Haines, co-owner of North East Marine Repair.
Along with those bait and boat repair businesses struggling to stay afloat, the Blue Pike Grille just opened at the marina four days ago, and the owner says he's unsure what the future holds.
PA Fish & Boat Commission provides update on Walnut Creek Marina projects
'The entire is community is anxious. We're anxious as new business owners, and the other business owners at the bait and tackle and the marine repair shop, everybody's anxious,' said Kevin Daughrity, owner of the Blue Pike Grille.
There is currently no date set for the marina's reopen, but Parker says they are working 'as quickly as possible' to transfer the property to the North East Marina Authority.
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