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A walk about town is always interesting this time of the year – many merchants have relocated, others have moved on and there are, as usual, a few new kids on the block. So, let’s take look at the summer of 2008’s merchants’ line-up. |
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Let’s begin with the Washington
Street Mall – center for all retail in Cape May and fresh from a recent re-do –
th
Over in the 400 block, we
noted one change – the former Rick’s Café which changed over to
Delaware Bay Coffee Company, which last year changed to Figs, changed
again before the summer ended to Café Buon Giorno. It still serves a
wickedly good cup of java and you can still get a breakfast treat and a light
lunch there. One big change in the 400 block is the renovation of the building
which up until last year housed Jewelry Emporium and Nostalgia Shop
Antiques The building underwent a major renovation by Jackson Mountain
Café owner Mike Slawek and is expected to open within the next month or so
as Cape May Fish Market. It should also be noted that Mike bought
The Ugly Mug Café last summer from Bob and Lisa Ransom – so it is under new
ownership.
Some big changes over in the 300 block, the most noticeable being the major renovation of The Lynn Arden Children’s Shop which closed in the fall and still has not reopened – but they look close to opening their doors any day now. The original circa 1916 building was demolished and a new three story a structure went up in its place. Around the corner, Wildberries moved from their Jackson Street location to Sawyer’s Walk in the 300 block, which was home to Tides of Time which has moved to the Pink House cottage, formerly Uniquely Yours II (the small pink cottage behind the Pink House on Carpenters Lane). In Wildberry’s place is a new shop called Happy Baby Baby Boutique and right next door is another new shop (Wildberries had both locations) Cape May Sandal Shoppe. The Golden Gull is gone. Across the Way is in. This eclectic gift store is owned by the people across the way – Pam and Steve Smarro of Madame’s Port fame. Balance Yoga Studio is gone from upstairs at Stumpo’s Pizza. They moved to Park Center on Park Boulevard in West Cape May.
Over at Washington Commons,
the Henna Shop, which opened last year, is gone. In its place is a
clothing boutique called Go Fish. Right next door was a vacant store
which at one time was Candlessence now has a new tenant – sort of.
Riptide East, which sells college sports apparel, opened Riptide West,
across walk and is a professional sports apparel shop. W.C. Gallery split
his store in half to make way for
And speaking of Jackson Street, make sure you check out the Mad Batter Restaurant’s new bar, built entirely from “green” materials. It looks like a great way to stop have a cocktail and order some food. They are promoting music, like Jazz at the Batter on Wednesday nights with more to come as summer swings into gear. Along Washington Street, Goose Creek gift shop is gone. Nothing in its place as yet. Now where are we? Oh, let’s pop over to Carpenters Lane. Last summer Lynn Arden’s Children Shop opened a satellite store in the cute yellow building on Carpenter’s Lane. Lynn Arden’s is gone. BUT, guess what? Lizzie Fritz of Tradewinds fame is in. At the Merry Widow, Ocean Isle Tans is gone. Desatnick Real Estate is in.
On the promenade Godfather’s is gone. Surfin’ Sammies Beach Grill is in. Over in West Cape May on Panico’s Brick Oven Pizza is in. Captain Blackbones is out. Cape Wallpaper and Flooring on Park Boulevard, next to Flying Fish Studio and Linen Outlet is out. Media in Motion is in. Well, that’s the scoop for summer 2008. Give the new kids on the block a try and please keep patronizing the tried and true. If we’ve forgotten anyone, give us an email. |
e rededication of which will take place June 21 at 10 a.m. The 500 block
is pretty steady with no changes. 
Cape May on Canvas has changed its name to Scott Griswold
Art. For those of you who remember The Market at the Bubbling Well,
which housed Create-A-Bear for several years, that building is still
vacant.
Moving around the corner to Perry
Street, the big change there is the recent opening of Pink, a jewelry and
clothing boutique owned and operated by the people who run
Victorious in
Congress Hall and Victorious II in the Washington Commons.
Across the street the shops of Congress Hall have undergone some huge changes,
most of them in the “gone” category. Gone are: The Museum Shop,
Environs, 30 Degrees. Laura’s Fudge left last year. Tommy’s
Folly has expanded into the form Museum Shop and across the aisle where Environs
and 39 Degrees once were, are the sales offices for the soon-to-be built
Ocean House, formerly The Rusty Nail Restaurant and
Coachman’s Motor Inn on Beach Avenue. 
Maggie’s of Cape May, a sandwich
shop, which will be opening in the near future. Good news for the customers of
the very popular Paw Prints. The original owner sold the store a couple
of years ago. The new owners left and the original owner is back. YEAH!
Boardwalk Bank merged with Cape Savings Bank, on Jackson Street, and
is now Cape Bank. So Boardwalk Bank is gone. Homestead Realty
is in. 
On the beachfront, make note that
the Beach Theatre’s demise was exaggerated and is back under the new
management of the Beach Theatre Foundation. Every ticket you buy helps the
theatre stay and keeps the condos they want build there instead out. Next to the
box office – Create-A-Bear is out. Shades of Cape May is in.
Louie's Hot Dogs of Louie's Pizza fame is in. The spot was vacant last
year and occupied by Beaches & Cream the year before. Lu-Lu’s,
at the Macomber Hotel is gone. Green Room Café is in. Also gone is – and
can you believe it – Mother Grimm’s Bears. But you can still order your
bears at 886-1200 or by visiting