LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Town: And the (Business) Beat Goes On |
by Barry Becker |
As we slip into another summer season of smiling visitors, weve added some new columns to Letters, and are giving some others a new look. One such new look is this column, which has been appearing under the [some would argue drab] heading of Business Beat for the past 2 years or so. Were now recasting it as CAMPTown. While the name is changing, this columns mission remains the same: were committed to letting you, our gentle readers, know all about the fabulous restaurants, unique shops and other businesses that serve our area and support the work of CAMP Rehoboth. Since Memorial Day signals the Official Opening of the Season, you will of course be wondering, "Whats new in Rehoboth?" Well, read on. One of the great new additions to our already well established unique retail niche is PORT WAHAKAA (Penny Lane Mall, 42 Rehoboth Ave., on the Wilmington Ave. end of the Mall). Owner Shawn Brady travels to the Oaxaca (pronounced like the name of the store) area of southern Mexico several times a year to find his exotic and beautiful wood carvings, all of which are one of a kind. He works with 30 to 40 families who carve and paint amazingly colorful, complex and sometimes comical figures. Some of the figures are recognizable animals such as elephants, lizards, giraffes, dalmatians, rabbits, cows, coyotes, iguanas, frogs, fish, crabs, bugs..well, you get the picture. Others are quite mythical looking figures, or appear to be combinations of animals. Is this a rabbit or that annoying little dog from the Taco Bell commercial, you wonder; is that an elephant or a woolly mammoth. More importantly, why is it green with zebra-like stripes? But more than the carvings themselves, what will strike you most is the color. Just an armadillos tail alone, for example, has nearly a dozen colors and detailed design on it, and the body is even more colorful and intricate. Each figure is painted with layers and multitudes of colors, with dots, patterns, geometrics and stripes of all sorts painted over each layer. Carvings come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, and range in price from $20 to $150. Shawn used to sell these incredible works of art at Washington, DCs Eastern Market, a fabulous open-air market on Capitol Hill. He met other artists there, so he also carries some of their Russian prints, jewelry and other items. Rounding out the rest of the colorful shop are gorgeous Mexican tin and tile mirrors, Talavera pottery from different villages, gorgeous and colorful Zapotec Indian wood frames, colorful painted tin wall sconces with toucans and sea horses, and much more. Shawn knows the history of each piece and each family he works with, so he brings a wonderful energy and passion to this fabulous store. Check it out! Meanwhile, out on the highway, David Potts opened BAR STOOLS PLUS (site of the former Atlantic Liquors, off Rt. 1 on Old Landing Road across from the former Super Fresh) around Easter weekend. He used to own Atlantic Liquors, so this is not new space for him. What is new is the business. Bar and counter stools of every possible style, color, size, height, fabric and material you can think of, from metal to wood to vinyl and more. There are stools that swivel, swivel and tilt, or just sit there looking pretty. In addition to the stools (we stopped counting at 70, so there is much variety here), Dave has complete bar sets for sale, from the outdoor typhoon bar with snappy beach umbrella that you fill with sand or water to hold it down in strong winds, to the rustic all wood Mexican bar, the neon bar, wood and metal combinations, and more. There are pub and bistro tables, carved benches and colorful decanters and glass ware of all sorts for your entertaining needs. Theres even a beautiful high slate bar table with a fountain in the center. If youve got a kitchen counter or island thats screaming for seating, this is the place for you. Earlier this Spring I took a look at the new NOAHS LARK (139 Rehoboth Ave., site of the former Sgt. Peppers), where you can find an amazing collection of gift items and clothing featuring animals from every continent, I believe. Fabulous! Also, in the same article, I looked at SHORE HAUS (700 Rehoboth Ave., across from The Shore Inn), which features not only the great lawn furniture and accessories you see as you drive into town, but stylish furniture, some Oriental, some 50s retro, some just plain cool, inside. (see the April 9, issue for more details, or, better yet, stop by and check these cool places out.) Then of course there are new eating places, too. All winter long I watched the construction and work on OUR PLACE (37 Baltimore Ave.), and the love poured into it by Deb Ivanor and Maryanne Miller. They finally opened in the beginning of May, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served on the front porch or in one of the gorgeous rooms inside. Great job! (see related article, page 36 of this issue) THE DOUBLE DIPPERS (across from Plumb Loco at 11 N. First St.) is certainly going to be my death knell this year. Tom Gile and Joe Mack just opened this old fashioned ice cream parlor featuring, well, virtually everything a place like this should have. Hand dipped and soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, shakes, sundaes and floats, banana splits, Belgian waffles with ice cream and fruit toppings, even cotton candy! They also serve hot dogs with the trimmings, fruit smoothies, floats and more. I missed the grand opening of the new PURPLE PARROT restaurant (247 Rehoboth Ave.) as I finally got out of town for a vacation, but I hear just everybody was there and they all had a great time. From the food to the over-the-top-painting and wild art work done inside, it sounds like Hugh Fuller and Troy Roberts, who also own the Iguana Grill, will be busy with this new hit. (see May 7 issue for more details). As the summer unfolds, Ill be bringing you more details of whats hot, whats new, where you should shop, what you should do. (Of course, business owners, if you have something youd like to see covered here, please give me a ring at the CAMP office at 302-227-5620.) |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 5, May 21, 1999 |