Labor Day for many means celebrating the hard work of the American worker, but for one sector of the Grand Strand's workforce, there isn't much to celebrate this week.
For the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of seasonal workers who grind the gears of the summer economic engine, Labor Day marks the unofficial "beginning of the end" of their work year.
"When the summer ends, no more people, no more money," said Mark Castro who found summer work at Duffy's and The Bowery in Myrtle Beach.
After months of unemployment, Castro landed a job at the restaurant and bar, where he mostly works in the kitchen.
On Labor Day, he was scrubbing the door frames at the entrance of Duffy's, knowing it may be one of the last times for a while.
"I might go to Ohio ... New York ... I don't know. I mean I don't want to (leave), but this economy sucks. What are you going to do?" He asked as he held a rag in one hand and a bottle of bleach in the other.
Just down Ocean Boulevard at Marvin's Restaurant, the stories are a little different.
Owner Marvin McHone says this past summer was the best he's ever had -- due in large part to the new boardwalk.
"That's going to shock some people," this reporter said to McHone.
"Well, it shocked me," he replied.
McHone said the stellar summer means he may be able to sustain his workforce through the winter.
"Hopefully I won't have to lay anybody off during the winter because I think business is going to be up," he said.
He added one bartender quit recently, so that saved him one potential layoff. His use of foreign exchange students also means automatic attrition at the end of the summer, and they hold positions he won't re-fill during the winter.
A few doors down at Dirty Don's Oyster Bar & Grill, one would hear similar optimism from Manager Jordan McGraw.
"We closed down the other restaurant, The Fish House, for the wintertime, so we're actually bringing a lot of people from over there over here," McGraw said.
He said they've only been open for a few months, so they don't know what to expect for the winter, but he's hopeful no one loses their job.
That's wishful thinking according to longtime business owner Victor Shamah.
"I believe that they're fooling themselves," Shamah said of other business owners claiming no layoffs.
"You don't need the same crew and the same staff here in the off-season as you do in the full season," Shamah said.
Shamah owns Duffy's and The Bowery near the corner of 9th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard.
While Shamah disagrees with his colleagues in some regards, he does think the boardwalk may help sustain business a little longer into the year.
"We will keep on and see if we can keep them (most of the staff) on until ... the crowd leaves."
Waiting to see and simply hoping just won't cut it for some, like Shamah's employee, Mark Castro.
"It's real tough. I got two kids, you know. I've gotta pay bills, child support. It's life though. Gotta do what you gotta do."
