CAPE MAY, NJ (CBS) – Memorial Day weekend is next week, but the summer season is kicking off in Cape May with a little help from Hollywood. Manufacturing equipment lines the street outside Congress Hall, vintage signs hang from storefronts and classic cars parked around town help send Cape May back in time to the 1960s.
“We come here every year and to see this in person it’s a nice experience,” said Anita Pelli, who was in Cape May to celebrate her 60th birthday with family.
Crowds of people gathered near the Washington Street Mall as filming continued for the Bob Dylan biopic starring ‘A Complete Unknown’ Timotheé Chalamet, Edward Norton and Elle Fanning.
The stars were spotted on the set, which was created to resemble the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, where Dylan made history playing electric guitar.
“I just think it’s so cool because I love watching celebrities,” Pelli said.
Jade Maldonado has been working at Coffee Tyme for three years, but she had her first celebrity customer on Thursday when Norton stopped by for a quick hit of caffeine.
“He was definitely so sweet and so down to earth,” Maldonado said. “Here the girls accidentally called the wrong drink, so I ended up giving him the wrong drink, so I was totally embarrassed and I was like, you’re Ed Norton, right, can I have my picture and he was so nice.”
Maldonado said she missed the star when he stopped by the coffee shop on Tuesday and posed with the owner. Although she was a little impressed, Maldonado said she made sure to make Norton a new drink.
“A hot chai squash with three shots of espresso, a latte,” she remembers.
On Friday, fans had their phones in hand, ready to snap a photo of the stars on the final day of filming in Cape May.
“My daughter always dreams of being an actress, so we thought we would come here and give it a try,” says Ed Hamilton, who lives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
“I’ve heard people call it Cape Chalamet now, so the buzz is great,” said Zack Mullock, the mayor of Cape May.
Mullock said this is the largest production to come to Cape May, and filming helped get the season started a week early as fans and crew members filled the place. Mullock expects the economic boost to be in the millions.
“They’ve paid the city not only for parking and things like police, but also for the use of hotels and restaurants. When you add that up, it’s a huge economic benefit,” Mullock said.
A release date for the film has not yet been announced.
