While some super sleuths picked “Warren Peeze” as the perpetrator at Langley’s Mystery Weekend, it turned out to be a killer weekend for local merchants, too.
Business owners and organizers said the annual murder mystery was a big success despite the weather.
“The rain certainly did not seem to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for sleuthing through Langley,” said Nancy Rowan, executive director of the Langley Chamber of Commerce.
Between 1,600 to 1,800 visitors came through Langley over the course of the weekend.
“Most of the lodgings on the South End of the island were full and the restaurants had lines waiting to get in – very unusual for a weekend in February,” Rowan said.
“The retailers I have spoken with said they had a good or above average weekend, but they are experienced enough to know that future business comes from those folks who enjoyed our town during Mystery Weekend and will be back in the future with shopping as their main goal,” she added.
One shop especially had a sweet sales weekend — Langley’s chocolate shop.
Mona Newbauer said she had the best sales since she opened more than a year ago.
Newbauer’s business had one obvious advantage; this year’s mystery was titled “Death by Chocolate.”
The cast of the annual event kept visitors entertained, despite the wet weather.
“We had a cast that was huge in number and enthusiasm. Even with the inclement weather, cheerleaders and hockey players were on the street, cheerleader moms held a fundraiser, soggy pom-poms were everywhere and the gambling 49-er’s made their presence known all over town,” Rowan said.
“Once again, I am just knocked out by the time, effort and passion that people put into this event just for the fun of it,” Rowan said.
Despite the uptick in business, the future isn’t looking good for every one.
Somebody’s days are already numbered as “The Langley Loons,” better known as the writing crew of Loretta Martin, Michael Hill and Saranell DeChambeau, are already planning who to knock off next as they create their next diabolical plot for Mystery Weekend 2008.
