Hurricane Bill is wreaking havoc all up and down the East Coast, forcing New York City to shut down most city beaches to swimmers. This is particularly bad news for business owners in Coney Island who have dealt with more than just bad weather this season. NY1's Ty Chandler filed the following report.

Talk to business owners in Coney Island and it will not take long before they tell you that Mother Nature has not been kind to them this summer.

"It was the worst season in history, due to the weather to start with," said Howie Meltzer of the Coney Island Horse Derby.

In a seasonal business, every day counts, and there have not been many beach days this year. June and July were rainy and cool, and just as business and the weather started heating up in August, along came Hurricane Bill.

While the storm itself will not approach the United States, it is causing rough surf and riptides. City officials shut down 13 miles of beaches to swimming in Staten Island, Queens, and Brooklyn, including the one at Coney Island.

"It's very bad because once people hear the forecast and that's its going to rain, they won't come," said Jose Rivera of Nathan's hot dogs. "Lots of people just don't come to the beach."

With only a few weeks to go before their summer season wraps up, business owners along the boardwalk say the storms that shut down the beaches could not have come at a worse time.

"The weather affects not just us, but everybody, all of the businesses," said Paul Georgoulakes of Paul's Daughter food stand. "When the sun is out, it's enough for everybody. But when the rain comes and the storms, it's nothing for nobody in this summer business."

In addition to the less-than-perfect weather, Dreamland, an amusement park in Coney Island, was shut down on Thursday after the management could not settle a rent dispute with landlord Thor Equities.

At Williams Candy at 13th and Surf, the owner says sales are already down about 30 to 40 percent this summer, and losing the amusement park may be the last straw.

"Fifty percent come for the beaches and the other 50 percent come for the rides," said Peter Agrapides of Williams Candy. "So when the rides shut down and the beaches, what does that mean? I don't know. No business at all."

If there is a bright side to the story, there are still two weeks till Labor Day. These business owners say they are hoping if the sun comes out between now and then, they might be able to stay afloat.

For more information about the beach closures, go online to nyc.gov/parks.