Volusia County rejects Miami company for local firm for rentals and concessions on beaches
DELAND — The local company operating rentals and concessions on Volusia County beaches staved off a challenge from a Miami-based company to win a long term-contract to continue taking care of the beachgoers.
Every Volusia County councilmember ranked the local firm, Beach Rentals & Refreshments of Volusia County, as their top choice at Thursday's meeting.
County Chair Jeff Brower said he wanted Volusia County to be a welcoming place to do business, but couldn't prioritize outsiders over those who built up the local economy on the beach.
"That first has to be extended to our Volusia County business that have stuck it out for 30, 40, 50 years through thick and then, through storms, through COVID-19 and never gave up," he said from the dais.
Melanie Nordstrom, business manager for Volusia County Beach Rentals, said they partner with 60 local families and businesses to carry out their services. She highlighted that all of their products are manufactured in Florida, including umbrellas made in Jacksonville, e-bikes from New Smyrna Beach and food trucks from Port Orange.
"We're keeping it local all the way," Nordstrom said.
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The Miami company, which started an LLC named Boucher Brothers Volusia County, operates contracts with cities, hotels and condominiums around the state of Florida, as wells as in Virginia Beach and California. In Volusia County, they operate the beach club for Latitude Margaritaville
They said they would invest a couple million dollars in new equipment and said they would work with the existing contractors.
"We would never try to change the fabric of the community. We want to be part of the community," vice-president of operations Todd Hill said.
Councilwoman Billie Wheeler said the decision was a difficult one.
"It's very hard to compete against locals, the ones I see everyday on the beach," she said. "I cannot walk away from our local people. I just can't."
Vice-Chair Barb Girtman complimented the professionalism she had seen displayed at Boucher Brothers properties, but said she was unwilling to break away from the locals, even as she challenged them to elevate their services.
"I know for Daytona we want a new perception for who we are," she said. "I'm all in support of our small businesses and our current contract, but I know what we really want to see is the next level for us."
Audience shows up for locals
A large crowd attended Thursday's meeting to show their support for Beach Rentals & Refreshments of Volusia County, applauding often and voicing their support of the locals.
"These families are the fabric of our community and built what is here," Thomas Rutledge said.
Nicole Huebener, one of the contractors who is in New Smyrna Beach, said she worried outsiders wouldn't keep the prices affordable.
"Daytona is known worldwide for one thing: family-friendly, economical fun. Eighty dollars for a chair is not economical," she said.
Daytona Beach resident, John Nicholson, did offer a word of caution, saying local for the sake of local didn't always produce the best results, giving an example from Daytona Beach.
"We wanted to go local, so we went local," he recounted. "We chose them and guess what, we lost out."
The new contract will last seven years, with an optional three-year extension, according to Coastal Division Director Jessica Winterwerp.
The county will negotiate a price for the services and the contract will take effect in October. For the past three years, the annual cost was $525,000.
The company has 31 locations that rent umbrellas and chairs, 26 that sell food, and six that do both. They also operate 12 roving locations. Some spots will rent out golf carts, e-bikes, beach boards and electric surfboards. Fire pit rentals were approved by the council in August and will start up by October.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia rejects Miami's Boucher Brothers for local beach rental firm
