As Janet Fisher demonstrates, most pieces at Mimi’s 4 the Shore Furnishings in Selbyville have a seaside feel. photograph by Kevin Fleming www.kevinfleming.com
This summer beach shopping is all about the details. New boutiques with exclusive specialties have emerged, giving beach goers and homeowners unique shop-topias to explore.
A sure bet for decorating the house is Mimi’s 4 The Shore Furnishings (38293 London Ave., Selbyville, 436-8444). Mimi’s carries everything from bedroom and patio furniture to lamps, bedding and artwork. Most pieces have a distinct seaside flavor. “Our furniture and accessories are geared towards shore living. Everything we carry has a beachy look to it,” says owner Mark Fisher. “Everything is pretty much made out of wicker or wood-and-wicker combinations and has pastel or earth-tone colors.”
Mark and his wife, Janet, opened the store in May after years of Janet working in big-box furniture stores. “Janet developed a rapport with a lot of the smaller manufacturers, so when we decided to open our own store, we already had several great relationships in place that allows us to offer beautiful furniture at a reasonable price to our customers,” Mark says. “Our motto is integrity in pricing.”
Aquamarine on Market (205 Second St., Lewes, 644-4550) promises fashion finds for all women, regardless of age. There are designer jeans, dresses by Vera Wang, Margaret O’Leary knits, and clothing by Mac and Jac. “The nice thing is that women of all ages shop here,” says Maureen Botti. “We have shoppers in their 20s and their 80s.”
Eco-minded and fashion-forward shoppers can indulge their green habits at The Happy Fish (28841 Lewes-Georgetown Hwy., Lewes, 684-1229), which has just moved from Rehoboth Beach to Lewes. Most consumers consider trends, color and size when shopping for clothes, but many are now adding organic materials to their list of requirements. Husband-and-wife owners Meg and Tony Lucarelli are long-time advocates of organic clothing and have used their shop as a way to get the message out.
“It’s the same principle as food: You don’t want to put chemicals in your body, so why would you want to put them on your body?” says Meg Lucarelli. “All of the clothing we carry is made from organic fibers, mainly cotton, bamboo, soy and hemp.”
The Happy Fish carries several fashion lines, including Prana, Of the Earth, Maggie’s and HT Naturals. “We also have a really unique jewelry collection that’s mostly hand-made,” Meg says. “The jewelry is made from natural resources such as moose antler, pine cones and tree bark.” The Happy Fish also carries men and women’s undergarments, as well as baby clothes.
Shoppers who are looking for more toddlerwear can stop by Saltwater Mama (42 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 227-6818). The maternity boutique carries the latest in clothing and gear for expectant families and their babies.
“Much of our attire is geared for the whole pregnancy, which means it’s extremely transitional, from the mother’s starting weight all the way through pregnancy and back down again,” says owner Amy Hayes.
Saltwater Mama takes maternity wear to the next level. “We are happy to provide expectant dads with baby gear, including clothing that is not only fashionable but practical for carrying baby accessories,” Hayes says.
BOB strollers, wagons for the beach, Bjørn products and furniture for the nursery are some of the items at Saltwater Mama. The store also carries post-pregnancy attire for nursing and a variety of gifts for expanding families.
Shoppers who are looking for something a little more grown-up can swing by Mostly Monograms (101 Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach, 1-800-472-9805). The store carries clothing, gifts and goodies for the home. As the name implies, most items can be customized with a monogram.
The Philip Morton Gallery (47 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 727-0905) is a great place to indulge in original contemporary artwork. The gallery itself is considered a masterpiece by some. “We’re very modern, not your typical beach town gallery,” says owner Philip Livingston. “I wanted to bring something new to the area.” Livingston hit the major art markets and contracted with artists all over the world for his current collection. The store’s primary focus is paintings. The gallery carries work by Craig Allen, Scott Hile and Dane Tilghman, as well as Romanian Vadim Palarchauk. A line of sculptures is coming soon.
At nearby Amandeline Gallery (403 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 226-0330) art connoisseurs can expand their own collections. The gallery and shop boasts national artists such as Michael Flohr, Henry Asencio and Christina Keating. Paintings and sculptures are available in a slew of different mediums including oil, acrylic, ceramic tile and even recycled metal.
If the shopping list includes some goodies for the yard, customers can visit Gulfstream Hammocks (27 Atlantic Ave., Ocean View, 539-8953). “We carry the entire Hatteras Hammocks line,” says employee Doreen Dennis. “But the store has more than just hammocks. We carry a higher-end line of Adirondak furniture by Uwharrie, as well as Woodwick candles and Deco Breeze fans.”
The store also specializes in metal artwork and outdoor rugs. “Most of the items we sell can be used indoors as well as outdoors,” Dennis says. “I use one of the store’s outdoor rugs in my living room.”
Bin 66 Fine Wines and Spirits (301 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach) will expand from its location on Route One to a second store in downtown Rehoboth Beach. The shop is an upscale wine store that offers labels such Cakebread Cellars, Talbott Vineyards, Sonoma-cutrer Vineyards and Chalone Vineyard. “We are a serious, focused wine shop as opposed to a liquor store,” says owner Tom Poor. The new location will stock about 1,500 labels.
Altruistic shoppers will be sure to stop by Beebe’s Treasure Chest (Midway Shopping Center, Rehoboth Beach, 644-2878). The resale and gift shop is operated by the Beebe Medical Center Auxiliary, so all proceeds go to Beebe Medical Center. This year the funds will benefit the Robert & Eolyne Tunnell Cancer Center on Savannah Road.
Products are contributed to the Treasure Chest by individuals and local businesses. Inventory includes everything from furniture, jewelry and clothing to books, glassware and small appliances. Not all of the goods are used; some are new overstock donated by businesses.
Collectors will want to visit Odysea’s Tervis Tumbler Shack (20214 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, 226-9006). The shop sells only the Tervis Tumblers line of insulated plastic cups. “We carry four different cup sizes that come with over 250 designs ranging from golf and garden designs to maritime themes,” says owner Rick Dryer.
The cups can be personalized with names, pictures or business cards inserted between the two layers of plastic. That guarantees at least one Tervis Tumbler for every interest.
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