
It’s June and time for the long awaited CapeMay.com Who’s New, Who’s Moved and Who’s Gone.
Let’s start in the 500 block of the Washington Street Mall. A few changes there. After many years in business, Gifts Galore is gone and the new owners are completely remodeling the building. Look for a June or early July opening of Galvanic, specializing in men’s clothing, accessories and furniture. Just across from Gifts Galore, on the corner of Carpenters Lane and the Mall, Pearl’s has a new owner, Nicolina Stoyanovavideva. Longtime proprietor Shirley Goodroe has sold her popular boutique. Nicolina is also the owner of A Ca Mia Restaurant at 524 Washington Street Mall.
Cape May Smokehouse, located on the Mall at Liberty Way, is new. The Red Monkey is gone, after only one year at that location. Glitter Girl is gone but Hello Gorgeous is new at the Liberty Way location. Hello Gorgeous sells bling – jewelry and accessories – and if we are lucky they might be selling wine by summer’s end. We’ll keep you posted on Facebook. Right next door to Hello Gorgeous is Shirt Outlet which also traded as Glitter Girl last year.
No one has come or gone in the 400 block but one small change. Pano is now under the management of Yiannis Karapanagiotis. That is one change. The second one is the menu which is completely salad driven, offering 15 to 20 different salads each day, plus a daily special. Lastly, Pano removed the sofas and the coffee house look and put more tables in for customer enjoyment. It is eat in, take out or delivery. Open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In the 400 block of Carpenters Lane, the entire street got a re-do and is now red-bricked to match the 500 block of Carpenters Lane and to match the Washington Street Mall. Next year, repaving of the 300 block will complete the job. No changes – store wise – in the 300 block.
On Carpenters lane, Rowhouse Tile is gone. Their cute little yellow building location is still vacant. Rowhouse Tile is now located at West End Garage on Perry Street.
Walking down to Beach Avenue, there are a few new faces. Exit Zero has added a new location to the beachfront where the old Village Leathersmith, and most recently Ella Rae Boutique, once were. They opened for business Memorial Day weekend. Ella Rae has relocated to the Washington Commons on Washington and Ocean streets.
Further down, at what we locals refer to as the Beach Theatre shops, it would be easier to say who is left rather than catalog who is gone, but we’ll try to do both. On the Gurney Street side of the complex Louie’s Pizza and Avalon Coffee are very much still there but the Nail Salon and Massage Spa are both gone as well as the shop with the beach sundries. Facing Beach Avenue, in the same shopping center, Summer Salt, Separately Swimwear, Zoe’s and Rita’s are still there. Real Enchilada is gone and the store remains vacant, as well as three other store fronts.
Across the street at Convention Hall, Pete Smith’s Surf Shop is expanding into the adjacent store front, making it one heck of a surf shop.
Moving up Ocean Street, Bamboo Shack 208, which changed owners last summer, is gone and the store remains vacant.
Just a couple of changes over in Washington Commons, as we noted above, Ella Rae Boutique, which moved from its Beach Avenue location, is in, next to Victorian Walk Gallery. Bank of America is gone. The spot is still vacant. Also Nice Nails and Spa has expanded into the former location of By the Sea Realty, next to the Acme. Cape Advisers is gone and ReMax Realtors is in. ReMax left its former location on the Washington Street Mall across from City Hall. That location is now vacant.
In the B&B world, Alexander’s is gone and the new owners have brought its old name back – it is now the Blue Rose Inn and Restaurant. And if Washington Street ever opens up again, you can drive by and take a look for yourself.
On Columbia Avenue, longtime innkeepers Chip and Barbara Masemore have hung up their innkeeping hats and the John F. Craig House B&B is gone. It is now a whole house rental.
Over in West Cape May a few changes. As many of you know Higher Grounds on Perry Street, suffered a fire during Hurricane Sandy last year and they are gone. Emilia’s Garden is in. They are a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinners. And in the garden area of that location is Suzy’s Garden Gift shop.
Across the street on the Cape May side, Cappelletti’s Pizza, 1432 Texas Avenue, is opening another location on Perry Street, formerly Carli’s Furniture and Gifts. The new site is currently under construction, we’ll keep you posted on our Facebook page regarding the opening date.
Some big changes in West Cape May. Cape May Linen Outlet and Seaside Cheese are swapping locations. Nora Pascarellal, owner of Cape May Linen Outlet is moving from her present location at 110 Park Blvd., to a new location at 600 Park Blvd. AND will also be opening a new store at Marketplace @ Teaberry in Clermont, NJ. Both stores are slated to open June 1. Meanwhile, Steve White of Seaside Cheese, 600 Park Blvd., is moving into the old Cape May Linen Outlet location. Steve plans to add a sit-down restaurant to the right as you walk in and a kitchen in the back of the space. Cheeses and deli as you walk in. June 19 is the targeted opening date. During the transition, he is still open at the 600 Park Blvd. building two location. Remember, he broke through the wall and expanded a couple of years ago.
A little further along the Park Blvd. center, near Artizan Salon and Spa, Animal Outreach and VIMspirations (Volunteers in Medicine) Thrift Shop is new. Dr. Ron Goldstein’s, DDS, dental office has closed.
At 410 South Broadway, Copperfish is gone. Beachside Smokehouse is in. You also might remember that this was once the location of the following other restaurants: Swallows, Daniel’s and Indigo.
Moving onto Sunset Blvd., the Teak furniture, at 135 Sunset, is gone and in its place are two new stores – People People Boutique, a clothing and accessory emporium, formerly of Stone Harbor and most recently located on Broadway, across from Cape Island Garden & Gift Shops and Cape May Honey Farm, where all bee related products are sold.
Over at Utsch’s Marina, East Coast Parasail welcomes their newest adventure: East Coast Jet Boat, a a 45-55 minute jet boat ride on the beautiful Atlantic Ocean and Cape May Harbor, including spins, tricks, and a high-speed adrenaline adventures you’ll never forget!
Well, that’s all I can think of the moment. If you come up with some changes, please let us know. Until then, here’s lookin’ at you, kids.
Cape Couriers! Cape May’s premiere delivery service. Check their Facebook and follow them on twitter to see what they can do for you
Thanks Susan for always putting this informative article together! It really is helpful when planning a trip down and takes alot of mystery out of the changes that occur during the year. Plus I’ve found some new favorite places I may have not known about otherwise!
Cape May Smokehouse not off to a good start – closed at 2:30 on a sunny Wednesday afternoon (6/12) with a help wanted sign in the window and a sign on the counter stating the credit card system is “temporarily down”. Then consider how long they state they smoke their meats and figure when (or if) they may reopen.
FYI….AFool. They opened the store at the end of April (on weekends only – Friday through Sundays – until school was finished).
They should have posted these hours on their door. I was confused when I saw them in there cooking, and their store was not opened.
As of June 14, they are now open every day! Yess!!! I know because they catered my May college graduation party which turned out to be Smokin Hot!! Got to know the chefs real well. Very accomodating, experienced & knowledgeable. Great authentic BBQ. Ribs, brisket & pulled pork to die for! Saw them Saturday at Harbor Fest smokin their chicken in one of their MONSTER Southen Pride Smokers. You could smell the chicken and corn up and down Delaware Avenue. Enormous smoked chicken dinner with roasted corn and cole slaw for a $10 Harbor Fest Special. Took 4 platters home with me. AMAZING!!! They used a large black barrel smoker at my catered party in May…couldn’t imagine that smokers came any bigger. But, they do. Definitely…. a must stop on the mall. They even have freshly squeezed lemonade. Remember, the Lemon Tree?? I am getting hungry just writing about this. Think I will head over there before work today and grab a pulled pork sandwich. I can smell that smoke down the mall right now.
Thanks…AFool
Hi Susan,
What happened to Blue Moon Ice Cream?
Thanks.
does anyone know what is being built at the spot where a glassworks store closed across the street from the taco place by the cvs in west cape may? looks like a coffee styled starbucks shop?
A long time since I’ve visited Cape May so can’t remember the name of the store I am looking for. Lots of Scandanavian pretties and three dimensional laser cutouts which hung in the front window with glass items. Corner of the Washington st mall closest to the Victorian Motel. Help!!!!