6,000 more cars cross Bob Sikes Bridge this Labor Day weekend compared to 2019

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. -- The Bob Sikes Bridge was busier this Labor Day weekend compared to last year, as there were almost 6,000 more cars heading towards Pensacola Beach.

From Friday through Monday, there were over 76,000 travelers combined. Saturday topped the list with almost 22,000.

But while there were more cars crossing the bridge this year, some business owners on the beach say this was one of the toughest seasons to date.

Mike Pinzone, the owner of Papa's Pizza, has been through it all in his more than two decades on the beach -- hurricanes, oil spills and now a pandemic. Each hardship takes a toll on his seasonal business.

He worries about the upcoming winter months, seeing as he typically saves the money made in the spring and summer months to make it through.

"We don't know what to expect. Things, rules keep changing," Pinzone said. "When we're talking about local people, they don't know what to expect because everything is changing so rapidly. Financially, probably not as bad as BP [oil spill]. It's just hard to know what's going to happen in the end."

Pinzone says the business basically has 130 days to make the money needed to operate. But while difficult times may lay ahead, he's confident they'll make it through.