Stephanie’s All Grown Up: In Its 35 Years, Stone Harbor Store Has Gone From Stuffed Toys to Fine Art & Jewelry
Stephanie and Stephen DiMuzio in 2014
Seven years ago, when Superstorm Sandy swept through the Jersey Shore, the then-newly renovated Stephanie’s of Stone Harbor suffered immeasurable damage. Twenty inches of water filled the store at 9720 Third Ave., wiping out its merchandise and carpentry.
“We lost everything,” owner Angela DiMuzio says. “It was a terrible time. We didn’t even know if we were going to reopen it. I was so disheartened, I said to myself, ‘Do I want to do this again?’”
But, with determination and manpower, the family rebuilt the store and the business continued to thrive. This year, Stephanie’s celebrates its 35th anniversary.
“We weren’t ready to go yet,” DiMuzio says. “I said to my husband, ‘No, we are determined. We are ready to rebuild and redo the whole store.’ And he made it possible. So here we are, 35 years later.”
Stephen DiMuzio first opened the business in Cape May during 1984, selling antiques and stuffed animals he purchased from a neighbor’s collection. He named the store Stephanie’s, in honor of his 5-year-old daughter. The business quickly expanded with new locations in Haddonfield and Stone Harbor by 1989.
Eventually, the family settled on solely keeping the Stone Harbor location open. Now in 2019, the store sells fine art, jewelry and other accessories. What used to be antique trucks and stuffed toy rabbits are now Wallaroo woven hats and silver pendent bracelets.
“We had to change,” Angela says. “Antiques are no longer as popular with children. We just kept redesigning.”
Another staple of the business for the past three years has been Stephanie’s art classes. Taught by Stephanie DiMuzio Vitiello herself, the store offers a multitude of drawing and painting courses for children.
“It’s been an adventure,” Angela says of the store experience. “The most wonderful thing is all the magnificent people we have met along the way. That is what has been so special. It’s like when you think, ‘Oh, should we give it up?’ I say, ‘I can’t.’ They have supported us all these years and that’s the beauty of it.”
The store is open every day from March to October, and open for long weekends November through January. While the future of Stephanie’s of Stone Harbor is unknown, Angela says her family’s love for the store and gratitude for their customers is far from ending.
“I always say I’ll know when it’s time to let go, but not yet,” Angela DiMuzio says. “I still love it a lot. We are just blessed.”