Motel owner demolishes 12 units due to lack of business

Marianne Carrier has owned the business for 30 years and this weekend decided to demolish the front 12 units on the property because of low occupancy, during what has been dismal tourism seasons.

“There are no alternatives. There’s no way you can afford to keep them up and there’s no backup. I just want to point out how bad it is. It’s not only me., This town is in bad shape as far as tourism goes,” she said.

Carrier says the past three years have been difficult and that she has had to hire staff later in the spring and lay them off earlier in the fall. She plans to continue operating the remaining units.

The demolition company is trading the work of dismantling and removal for ownership of the materials.

Carrier’s optimism is wearing thin with the state of local tourism.

“I have built up some fabulous clientele here. They are very upset with the ferry service. I think the government should step in and say ‘Hold on here’. This new schedule killed Yarmouth tourism,” she said.

“People come through the door and I can still smile, because I’m that type of person but I’m not smiling inside. Then I hear what the operators around me, what they’re doing and it just breaks your heart.”