May 24th, 2011
Downtown Rehoboth Beach is a fun place to shop. Many of the stores and restaurants are easily found on the “Avenue” but some of the most interesting ones are found on the side streets that weave around this coastal town. From the beach you can stroll through the town; it is that relaxed. It is also that casualness, fun and eclectic lifestyle that brings visitors every year to get away from it all. We, the residents, love it and know how special it is to live here.
I was walking on trendy Baltimore Avenue when a shop caught my eye. It seemed I had seen it somewhere else. It was in the Shops of the Rehoboth Mews. This is a “street mall”. Just one alley from Rehoboth Ave. to Baltimore Ave. with shops and coffee shops on either side.
The store is brand new in the Rehoboth Shopping Circuit. For the past 15 months they had been in Lewes, just up the road. Here, in town, they were getting great foot traffic.
Just like anywhere else, once a new store or restaurant opens people just show up. As I stepped into the store I noticed that there was abundant color throughout the store. Summertime brings that. You are at the beach so go for it.
This shop is fun, and very eclectic with affordable prices. A gift for a friend; an unexpected hostess gift, or your own personal indulgence.
Josephine’s Daughter is at 129 Rehoboth Ave., Suite D, 40 Rehoboth Mews. The tel. is 302-260-9577 and the website is http://www.josephinesdaughter.com. I think it is easier to find parking on Baltimore Ave. and access the store from that street. Please note that you can find Josephines Daughter on Facebook.
Come with me. Let’s go shopping. The pictures will show you a sample of what’s in store for you. Scarves and accessories.
Cute summer handbags.
There is a signature line of ankle high art-print boots.
These sandals were so cute. The pair comes with one set of decorative clip-ons; you can buy extra ones. The sandals were stylish, well made and comfortable.
There was another line of shoes and sandals, just as colorful as the rest and there were plenty of women trying them on and saying how good they felt on their feet.
I did not see too many things for men; therefore, I would say this store is predominantly for us, women. But wait, the game fish bottle openers will be for the guys.
The jewelry? One of a kind pieces made for Josephine’s Daughter.
  
I did not try the Saress on. This is called the ultimate beach dress; wear it from the beach to a happy hour; to dinner. It is supposed to be comfortable, stylish and always appropriate on or off the beach.
Then I saw the Wallaroo hats. I know this company. They are from Boulder, Colorado. The hats are available in a variety of styles for men, women and children.
The majority of the fabrics block 97.5% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Look for the label which determines which hats are UPF-50. If you want to learn more about this company, please visit www.wallaroohats.com. Josephine’s daughter had a nice selection.
Josephine’s daughter has home accents, as well. A vase here, a mirror there. Serving pieces and wine stoppers.
The store has a second floor with some furniture and art, as well. That room was being put together. But, this is what I found.
Customers, smiles, laughter, strolling with a friend, summertime, the beach….it is great.
Have a good one……talk to you later…
April 18th, 2011
Oh, I have a feeling that I am going to get into trouble for calling Basic Concepts “An Institution”. You see, I know Patti Watson, the proprietor of this shop that is going into its 35th season in Rehoboth Beach. Now, you tell, me if this is not an institution. This store has weathered the ups and downs of our economy through the years, and in my book Basic Concepts should be congratulated just for that effort.
Basic Concepts is located at the Village-By-The-Sea Shops at 149 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-227-8688.
I stopped by and was chatting with Patti and right at that moment I thought about writing a post for my blog.
Basic concepts carries two main lines of clothing. Fresh Produce and Focus from California.
Fresh Produce has been around for a long time. Lots of new bright colors for the season. Cute tee-shirts, little skirts, blouses and dresses. They are perfect for the way we live here at the beach.
Throw earrings, a necklace, a bracelet and you have an outfit.
Basic Concepts has hats; a must at the beach, as well.
The brand Focus has also cute jackets, shirts, sweaters and dresses. Even during the summer evenings there are cool nights. She had some great colors.
 
Last year I mentioned how nice it is to walk around Rehoboth Beach and see the familiar faces of those shopkeepers that make this town. They are friendly, caring, and I really enjoy them.
Have a good one…..talk to you later.
November 27th, 2010
The other day I got an email announcing the grand opening of a new boutique in Rehoboth Beach. I love to hear of new places opening up. The opening was yesterday, Friday; the busiest day of the Holiday Season.
Jane & Georgie is located at 419 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Website is www.janeandgeorgie.com. The owners? Kate Chambers, 302-245-7182 and Lisa Thomson, 302-228-6775. They are sisters!!
And you are probably wondering what’s with the name. Grandparents that’s who they were, which both sisters remember with great love and admiration. They both had a unique sense of style. Kate and Lisa decided to dedicate their new venture to them.
The shop is easy to find; right near the roundabout in Rehoboth Beach.
I did not know what I was going to find, but then I saw Kate. This sister, I had met before. She has been in the retail business now for quite some time. I was so glad to see her and she told me that they had started thinking about doing something like this months ago; voila!, they are in business now.
It is really a store for women. They are still getting merchandise in and they will be getting some apparel for children, as well.
At this time of the year the store opened up in a festive mood. The tree and the lights complemented the dresses first seen as you approached the door.
Jewelry, clutches, accessories, very pretty dresses, blouses, shirts, scarves and just about anything we women enjoy to shop for.
  
Jane & Georgie will be carrying jeans; one of the brands is James Jeans. That company is based in LA and supposedly they have created the perfect fitting jeans to hide ones flaws. Music to my ears!!
The classic jelly ballet flat shoes with peep toe were from a company called Melissa Shoes. The summer clutch was from Elaine Turner.
Clothing designers available are Elizabeth McKay, Soshana, Tibi, and Butter by Nadia.
The trendy triple leather bracelets were by Vita Fede and made in Italy.
Now that the cooler weather has arrived, the store also had plenty of scarves; some linen, some cashmere and some ruffled.
An important accessory for a woman is the jewelry she wears. Jane & Georgie has plenty. Lauren G. Adams has X Rings, which are stackables and offers plenty of color selections. Her flower necklaces are also very popular.
Then there is Kenneth Jay Lane, which is a company based in N.Y. He is kown for being elegant and innovative.
So I have offered you a peak into a new boutique in Rehoboth Beach. You will love Kate and Lisa. At the present time the shop opens every day.
Please note that Jane & Georgie are on Facebook and Twitter. Also, please check their website; very nice.
Have a great Holiday Shopping Season!!! Talk to you later…
September 25th, 2010
I keep going back to this particular boutique in Lewes, that historic town that I also mention here and there. All you have to do is visit it once and you will be hooked.
Aqua Marine is located at 114 Second St., Tel. 302-644-4550. The shopkeeper is Maureen Botti. Her helper? Her mother!!
Well, I think Maureen and her mother are one of the reasons I visit the store frequently. Their friendly disposition is a winning situation. When I wrote a post on Aqua Marine on May 15th I mentioned that I really enjoyed watching Maureen and her mother deal with their customers. There is an instant connection that you can tell will last a long time. By the way, if you want to see that post just click on the month of May under Archives on the left hand side of this blog and scroll down to the date.
This is a new location for Aqua Marine, but the boutique opened in 2006.
It is the perfect setting being that Second Street in Lewes is actually the Main Street, where lots of cute stores and great restaurants abound.
The casual atmosphere of the beaches is something we love; Aqua Marine carries that type of clothing; relaxed, yet sophisticated at the same time.
Christopher Blue’s new line “worn” has affordable cords, and a great fit!!
Another brand carried is Magaschoni Cashmere. And, lots and lots of scarves; all colors, fabric and price points.
The weather is changing; a little cooler; it was great to see what’s new for the coming season.
Even though I refer to these kinds of posts “for women only”, men should not be intimidated by these boutiques. Usually the owners are more than happy to give you a helping hand.
Talk to you later…..have a great one….
September 8th, 2010
When our visitors come to the Delaware beaches, of course, the ocean and those laid back days are what all of them look forward to experience. I think the women can sit on the beach up to a certain point. Shopping could be not too far from their minds.
Not counting the outlets, our beach towns have so many little boutiques. And, yes, some are better than others. Knowing the shopkeepers on a personal level is one of the many treats of living in a small town.
The historic town of Lewes is one example. Second Street is the Main Street, with streets and alleys to the side full of little shops and restaurants.
Lewes looks great; I have mentioned it before. Its residents make sure the town is pristine.
So, I stopped to see Maryanne. She is the owner of the Beach Jetty on Second Street, tel. 302-645-4606. This year she opened Beach Jetty on Market Street, behind King’s Ice Cream. Tel. 302-644-4608. These 2 stores are just 2 blocks from each other.
There is a slight difference in the merchandise on the new store on Market Street but not a lot and I think Maryanne is still working on how the 2 stores are going to differentiate from each other.
Our coastal living is very casual and that is represented in the clothing lines she carries. At this time of the year the merchandise is still summer with just a hint of the fall weather that will soon be arriving.
Maryanne also carries a line of note cards in the Market Street store. These are photographs and she will soon be carrying the prints.
Sales are on-going at this time of the year, not only at the 2 Beach Jettys, but everywhere. Great time to go shopping!!
Talk to you later…..
August 10th, 2010
Anything Goes is located at the Village by the Sea, right on Rehoboth Avenue. The telephone is 302-227-2960. The owner is Joan Thompson.
This post is for women only and this store is different from the rest. It seems like at times, when you go out everyone looks the same. Anything Goes has very beautiful and unique pieces of clothing, shoes, bags, and great jewelry.
I was talking to Susan who works for Anything Goes. She showed me some shirts and jackets in beautiful colors but still black will make its presence in the Fall as a predominant color.
So let me give a peek to Anything Goes.
 
Anything Goes has been around for 22 years, and definitely has a following.
Have a great day and talk to you later….
May 15th, 2010
That’s right, I think you guessed it. This post is for women only, maybe….
Along the Delaware Beaches and Ocean City, Maryland you will find so many shops. Some of us have our favorites. What makes us go back to that particular one?
I like shopping in smaller shops vs. a big department store. That is just a matter of taste. A boutique for me is perfect. It is the French word for “shop”. Boutiques usually specialize in fashionable items such as clothing and jewelry.
Aqua Marine is a boutique located in Lewes, Delaware. The address is 114 Second St. Tel. 302-644-4550. The owner? Maureen Botti.
Second Street in Lewes is really the Main Street. It is the life of the town. From that street, other side streets branch out. Perfect shopping town since you can walk everywhere.
Maureen has been in business since 2006, but, a few months ago she moved to this location. Actually, this building dates from the early 1900’s and originally used to be the Hardware store owned by the Vessel family. How I know this? Well, when I talk about Lewes, I always say that the residents of this town know their history and preservation is always on their mind. After I left Aqua Marine, I saw one of those residents. During a cup of coffee he told me about the building. Great coffee at Notting Hill, by the way.
Aqua Marine is beautiful inside. Hardwood floors and cabinetry. Maureen was busy. Clothes were arriving just in time for the season and all of us, customers, were coming at the same time.
That did not matter because Maureen is the type of proprietor that is able to accommodate everyone with ease. Customers are so fastidious. I think more now than ever. Maureen has been able, since she started her business, to make a good impression and customers keep coming back.
You know what is great about Maureen? She remembers her customers’ names. It is like she has built a relationship; the feel of trust and comfort. There is an understanding between her and her customers. I saw her in action, while I was there. She listens to us and we get to know her personally. I met her mother, who was helping in the store. Maureen knows her designs well and encourages her customers to try new things.
Aqua Marine has stylish clothing, perfect for that casual atmosphere of the beaches. Yes, definitely, this store has year-round clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories to kick back in our resort towns.
Maureen told me that her devoted fashionistas range in ages from, as young as, 13 to 92. Sizes range from the very small (oh, well) to larger sizes. There is a wide range of prices, as well.
She has different lines that are well represented in the store, but two of them caught my attention:
Trina Turk - She is from California and her line is inspired by a multicultural mix. It combines the architecture and landscape of Los Angeles and California. Her designs are full of the season’s most casually sophisticated and “must have” silhouttes.
Beija-Flor – Jeans from Brasil. Always looking for that perfect bathing suit? Well, the same goes for jeans. This company says that the search for the perfect jeans is over.
This is a mother and daughter team that is targetting the “modern woman” whether she’s 22 or 52. The jeans are stylish, unique and fit great. I tried them and it is true. Maureen told me she cannot keep them in. The jeans have curve friendly patterns, colors, stitching and details.
Even though this is really a women’s boutique, men should not be intimidated to come in and buy something for that significant other. Trust me, Maureen will take care of you with ease.
I am sure I will be talking to you soon….It is really a gorgeous day in the Delmarva Peninsula…..Kick back and relax.
October 30th, 2009
I have mentioned before that by living for many years in the Delaware beaches, I have been a customer to plenty of stores. From the Delaware beaches to Ocean City, Maryland, is a very easy drive, so anyone that lives in this Peninsula drives all over the place with ease.
Shop owners have become friends. One of these owners is Judy Demeno. She used to own a very popular womens apparel shop in downtown Lewes; sold it, moved and opened another one in an area called Cool Spring.
I wish I could tell you more about Cool Spring, but I can’t. I thought maybe there was a neat story with a spring around the area, but I don’t even know if there is one. Apparently, Cool Spring is acually one of those unincorporated towns in the state of Delaware.
The name of Judy’s store is Coolspring Cottage, 28711 Lewes Georgetown Highway, Milton, DE 19968. Tel. is 302-684-5140 and the fax is 302-684-5160.
Even though the address shows that it is in Milton, actually it is closer to Lewes. To be exact it is off of Rt. 1 (Coastal Highway) and Rt. 9. (Lowes is on the corner). About 2 miles from there.
Coolspring Cottage is a farm so it is bigger than you think. The farm house is filled with accessories for the home with some clothing, as well, like the very popular Life is Good line. The other popular line that has been around for many years is Brighton and Coolspring Cottage has many of their items available to you, including their add-on charms that are so popular now.
When I visited the shop they were getting ready to decorate for the holidays. I can’t wait to see it since the whole farm has so much charm; wooden plank floors and fireplaces. Here are some pictures.  
The back building houses an extensive variety of ladies ready to wear clothing; you know, sweaters, shoes, scarves and jewelry. Judy is very personable and will help you pick the right outfit. She will be honest in telling you if it looks good or not. I say this because sometimes you go to stores and they might say that it looks great and you take it home and wonder what were they thinking. I am sure it has happen to you.
Anyway, Judy has great merchandise and you will not be disappointed.
I hope you have a great week-end. Talk to you soon from Delray Beach, Florida…one of my beaches, as well.
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