Cavendish Boardwalk getting expansion in time for summer tourism season

The iconic Cavendish Boardwalk tourist attraction on P.E.I.'s North Shore is getting a multimillion-dollar upgrade.

Just under 10,000 square feet will be added to the boardwalk for four new rentable spaces for shops and restaurants. There will also be more common areas to sit and eat, and upgrades to the parking lot and washrooms.

Chad Heron, CEO of Sea Cross Inc., the owner of the Cavendish and Avonlea boardwalks, said the company felt the time was right for an expansion.

"We've seen the crowds, we've heard the comments, we know there's lots of people kind of driving by and not coming in because there's nowhere to park or they don't want to deal with that many people," Heron said. "This expansion gives us lots more room to even expand into the future."

Heron said the COVID-19 pandemic hit the tourism industry on P.E.I. hard, and it was a tough time that the company and its boardwalk tenants had to pull through.

"After that, we've had a couple of great years, some of the best years we've had on the North Shore, so we're happy to say that," he said. "That's what really led us to investing further at the boardwalk."

The goal is for the boardwalk's expansion to be completed in the spring, with the new tenants in place for the summer tourism season.

'We're constantly growing'

George Clark-Dunning, the deputy mayor of the resort municipality, said it's great to see these new developments that will provide numerous benefits.

"It increases our tax base, it increases the opportunity for employment and all the good stuff that makes a great tourist community," he said. 

Clark-Dunning grew up in Kensington and would visit Cavendish in the summers and on long weekends. He said the boardwalk has changed a lot over the years.

"It's been a dramatic change and a wonderful change," he said, attributing some of the visitation increase to two yearly concerts, the Cavendish Beach Music Festival and Sommo Fest.

"We go from a population year-round of approximately 780, 790 people, and now with our two concerts... they continue to expand and bring in great talent, and we can go up to 50,000 people. We're constantly growing."

'Legendary' brand making a comeback

Cavendish Boardwalk opened over 40 years ago with only two restaurants, and has since expanded to more than a dozen businesses.

Christopher's Beach Club has been confirmed as one of the tenants on the expanded boardwalk. The P.E.I.-owned company was established in 1977 and is known for its iconic sweatshirts that were sold at the Christopher's and Dave's Cave stores between the 1980s and 90s. The store was last open in 2001.

Devon Cudmore, president of Coast Culture and Cudmore Group, said Christopher's was so popular because it was a different and fun store.

"Locals do know the brand, so why start something from scratch and we can bring back some of the great aspects, some of the designs and the feel of the store as well," Cudmore said.

Heron said news of the store's return is already stirring up excitement in the community. 

"It's kind of a legendary brand here on P.E.I. and as soon as we tell people, their eyes just light up," he said. "They're quite excited to check it out. So I think that's a win-win."