Business Buzz
The countdown to Memorial Day weekend is finally over, which means it’s time for the sun, the sand and the chance to return to your favorite shops and restaurants. While you’ve been eagerly counting down the days until summer, a number of shops and restaurants have been getting settled into their new digs in town. From new spots to grab a scoop and spin studios to shake off those calories, to trendy new boutiques and spas to unwind, several new businesses have established themselves on Seven Mile Beach this year, while others are celebrating milestones! Check out the latest buzz within the community!
Jeff Pokrass of Creative Window Design Center.
Creative Window Design Center
173 21st St., Avalon • 609-967-7700 • creativefurnishings.com
Creative Window Design Center moved its Avalon location to 173 21st St. over the winter. Owned and operated by the Pokrass family for nearly 50 years, Creative Window carries all the trimmings you need for your home. From fabrics and design services to furniture and accessories, the team works with you to ensure that your vision comes to life.
“Moving to our new location gives us the opportunity to further connect with our neighbors and new clients,” says Jeff Pokrass. “We’ve been in Avalon for about 15 years and our company prides itself on doing a good job and making sure our customers are happy. Whether we’re installing one blind or furnishing an entire house, our focus is on our customer service and keeping our clients satisfied. No job is too big or too small.”
With locations in Ocean City and Avalon, Creative Window is open year-round and serves customers along the East Coast, including traveling to places such as Florida, Delaware and Connecticut, to name a few. The company is an authorized Hunter Douglas dealer and sells products from its two storefronts. Items can also be ordered if you are looking for something particular.
In addition to carrying a wide selection of furnishings, décor, and window treatments, Creative Window also offers interior design, upholstery, and window measuring and installations by its experienced team.
For details or to schedule an appointment, go to creativefurnishings.com or stop by the new location on 21st Street.
Alexa and Gina DiPeso of Dip’s Ice Cream.
Dip’s Ice Cream
2409 Dune Drive, Avalon • 609-967-3300
Over the winter, the DiPeso family of Bobby Dee’s Rock ’n Chair converted the room on the south end of the restaurant, and Dip’s Ice Cream was born. The ice cream shop opened in May after a complete renovation to the space. It features a colorful theme, ice-cream-cone lighting, and seating for more than 40 patrons.
“My husband has been talking about this for a few years now, and with so many families coming to Avalon, we thought we really had a great spot that could be used for this,” Gina DiPeso says. “Other than the Saturday night bar crowd and smaller private parties, the space wasn’t used to its full potential. Now, families can enjoy lunch or dinner at Rock ’n Chair and then head over for ice cream at Dip’s. We will still utilize the space upstairs for private parties, both small and large.”
Customers will order at the counter and pick up their treats, then sit inside or head outside to one of the benches. Offering nearly 50 flavors of Hershey’s Ice Cream, the menu will feature traditional scoops in a cup or a hand-dipped waffle cone as well as specialty sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream floats and more. Customers of the Rock ’n Chair will also recognize the waffles and ice cream on the Dip’s menu, as they are made from the same recipe as the restaurant’s. There will be three specials that include waffles: the Dip’s Special, the Loaded Dip’s Special, and the Boardwalk Special. Many of the specialty sundaes are named by members of the DiPeso family, including the Sanibel S’mores (Alexa), the Salted Sea (Gina) and the Doodles Delight (Danielle). Kids will also enjoy such special flavors as Magical Unicorn, Llama Licious and Lil’ Blue Panda.
Dip’s Ice Cream will be open daily beginning Memorial Day weekend. Check out the hours and the specials on the social-media sites and stop in for a scoop at Dip’s this summer.
The Capt’n Chuckys Crew. From left, Theresa Vassalotti, Greg Vassalotti, Lois Lapman, John Vassalotti, Brittany Vassalotti and Joe Vassalotti.
Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Co.
3011 Dune Drive, Avalon • 609-830-3929 • captnchuckysavalon.com
The Vassalotti family opened an Avalon location for Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Co. at 3011 Dune Drive over Mother’s Day weekend. The business, based in Newtown Square, Pa., was created by Chuck and Nancy Wojciehowski, longstanding clients and friends of Greg and John Vassalotti. When the opportunity arose for the Vassalottis to share Capt’n Chucky’s with Avalon, they jumped at it.
Avalon is the 12th location for Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Co., a heat-to-eat retail store offering fresh and superior quality food at affordable prices. The establishment offers a variety of seafood and sides that take about 15 minutes to make an amazing dinner. Whether you’ve stayed on the beach too long and you’re savoring every last drop of sunshine or you’re simply entertaining friends, Capt’n Chucky’s will provide a gourmet meal that’s easy to prepare. And it doesn’t just carry crab cakes. It also offers a variety of appetizers, pasta dishes, fish and side items.
The food business has been a part of the Vassalotti family since the 1970s when Greg began flipping burgers at The Whitebrier. From there, his sons Joseph and John continued the tradition by working at Three Brothers From Italy Pizza, Brian’s Waffle House, Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, and the Avalon Yacht Club. Opening a place of their own was always a dream.
“For more than five generations, our family has been fortunate enough to call Avalon home,” Joseph Vassalotti says. “We have grown up surfing the 27th Street beach, spent lazy weekends on Avalon’s shorelines, and married within its churches. For our family, there was no other location more perfect than Avalon to start a business and share our crab cakes with our friends and neighbors.”
Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Co. is open daily from 9:30am-8pm, so be sure to stop by and check out all of the fresh and delicious items for your next meal.
Tim Davis of Seven Mile Island Deli.
Seven Mile Island Deli
3101 Dune Drive, Suite 107, Avalon • 609-368-6453 • sevenmileislanddeli.com
Seven Mile Island Deli is now owned and operated by local Tim Davis. The business was opened by Josh Souders nearly 10 years ago and Davis purchased it last year.
“I chose this location because I am born and raised in Avalon and it’s in a great location at the start of the business district,” Davis says. “I’ve been working in the business since I was a teenager working at Moran’s Dockside in the deli, and I worked my way up under the direction of Jim Moran. I worked there about 20 years before deciding to venture out on my own.”
Davis grew up in Avalon, fishing and loving the ocean life. He attended school at St. Joseph in Sea Isle City and Wildwood Catholic High School before heading off to Kean University to earn a degree in health and physical education. He spent his summers working at Moran’s and continued there after college and also worked in construction. He is a member of the Avalon Fishing Pier Club, American Legion Post 331, a volunteer for Friend In Need and involved with various fishing clubs and organizations.
Upon purchasing Seven Mile Island Deli, Davis renovated the interior to freshen up the look and include a new display case for its selection of Dietz & Watson deli meats and cheeses. The deli now offers sliced lunch meats and cheeses to go, made-to-order hoagies and sandwiches, hoagie platters, coffee, and freshly made soups in the offseason. In addition to the deli, customers can also check out Century Rods, Davis’ custom fishing rod and repair business.
“Being in the fishing industry and being an avid fisherman myself, we are also able to help build and repair custom fishing rods for our customers,” Davis says. “I’ve always built and repaired my fishing rods as a hobby and now I do it as part of the business. I’ve always thought that food and fishing made for good company.”
Seven Mile Island Deli is open daily from 6:30am-4pm with its daily specials posted on Facebook by 10:30am. It is open year-round, with offseason hours varying.
Jamie Promislo and JJ Francis of Revel Ride.
Revel Ride
271 21st St., Avalon • 609-830-5228 • revel-ride.com
A new spin studio based in Philadelphia is heading to Avalon this summer. Owned and operated by Jamie Promislo, Revel Ride offers three types of indoor cycling classes: ride, rhythm, and power. The studio opened just one year ago in Philadelphia and when the opportunity presented itself, Promislo decided to open another location at the shore.
“This location really chose us,” Promislo says. “After being down to look at potential locations, we walked into this space and looked around at the location. It’s amazing to share 21st Street with The Whitebrier, Tiger Lily, and so many other great businesses right off Dune Drive.”
Promislo grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, where she was on the step team at Samuel Fels High School. She went on to Albright College, where she received a degree in sociology/history. She later obtained a love for IT consulting and is currently the business development manager for Turnberry Solutions. All the while, she grew a love for indoor cycling, which eventually led her to open her own studio. She met JJ Francis, who became the operations manager for Revel Ride and is now assisting with the Avalon location.
Recently voted Best New Spin Studio in Philly, Revel Ride offers three classes to suit your style. Revel in Rhythm focuses heavily on choreography and encourages the group to move in unison with the beat of the music. Revel in the Power is driven by numbers such as RPMs and watts. For those who are new to spin or are just looking for a fun, full-body workout, consider trying Revel in the Ride. This hybrid class appeals to riders of all levels and leaves you feeling toned and ready for another class.
Classes are available at Revel Ride Avalon every day; the full schedule is available online at revel-ride.com. Clients can also download the Revel Ride mobile app, available in the app store or on Google Play, to see the daily schedule.
Sean McNulty and Adam Fox of Carefree Boat Club of Avalon.
Carefree Boat Club of Avalon
900 Ocean Drive, Avalon • 609-388-9009 • avalonboatclub.com
A new boating concept is making waves in Avalon this summer at Commodore Bay Marina. Over Memorial Day weekend, Carefree Boat Club of Avalon will host its grand opening as the 80th Carefree Boat Club across North America. Sean McNulty, the membership director, and Captain Adam Fox, the Marina and Boat Club manager, are excited to embark on this new venture.
For the past 25 years, the Commodore Bay Marina had been managed by Bernie Cesario. When he suddenly passed away in December, the McNulty family started to look at ways to enhance the marina when they came across the idea of the boat club. Additionally, the marina received a new security system and new Wi-Fi, and is in the process of rebuilding the docks.
“I have always loved being near the water,” McNulty says. “I grew up spending my summers working in Sea Isle City from the time I was in eighth grade until I graduated college. I went to Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach so I could be near the beach year-round. As soon as I graduated from Coastal Carolina, I moved to Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia. I lived near different beaches around Sydney for about two years until it was time to finally move home to Pennsylvania in 2017. I couldn’t be more excited to get back near the water.”
Fox grew up in Avalon and has been exploring the local waters as a professional full-time captain and guide for more than 20 years. He has been running boats and fishing full time since graduating from Stockton and brings years of experience as a private sport-fishing captain to the business.
Carefree Boat Club was founded in Virginia in 2002 with the mentality of “boating without owning.” By joining the Carefree Boat Club of Avalon, members have access to the fleet of six boats, amenities, member socials and more. Memberships cost about a third of what owning a boat would be and all memberships include winterization, insurance, maintenance, taxes, repairs, you name it. It’s as close as you can get to owning a boat without actually owning the boat. Members have the chance to make four reservations, two weekends and two weekdays at one time, up to six months in advance and can add on as they use their time. Memberships are reciprocal among all Carefree Boat Clubs throughout the United States, and with the Townsends Inlet Bridge being out this year, McNulty and Fox will deliver boats to any Sea Isle members who wish to join.
The club is accepting 50 members this year for three-year contracts and hopes to grow over the next few years, bringing in new boats as they bring in new members. If you’re thinking about buying a boat or recently sold yours and you’re already missing it, consider joining Carefree Boat Club of Avalon so you can spend more time on the water and less time worrying about maintaining your own boat. The business is open daily from 8am-7pm.
Jill Lehman of Shorely Chic Boutique.
Shorely Chic Boutique
220 96th St., Stone Harbor • 609-967-3000 • shorelychicboutique.com
Shorely Chic Boutique, featuring trendy women’s clothing and accessories, held its grand-opening celebration over Easter weekend. The new boutique is owned and operated by Jill Lehman.
“Since my parents have owned a house in Stone Harbor since 1979, I was fortunate enough to vacation here throughout my childhood and now I am currently a resident,” says Lehman. “I have always loved the shore and since I am most familiar with Seven Mile Island, it was prudent for me to open Shorely Chic Boutique’s bricks-and-mortar location here. This year, I was lucky enough to find an ideal location on 96th Street, an area that has something for everyone.”
Though Shorely Chic Boutique is a new business venture for Lehman, she is no stranger to the fashion industry. She grew up learning from her grandfather, who more than 70 years ago opened a furniture store that is still in operation today. Upon graduation from the University of Delaware with a degree in business administration, she opted for the fashion industry, knowing that eventually she wanted to own her own store.
Lehman brings more than 25 years’ experience to Shorely Chic Boutique from her career as a fashion executive in New York for corporate offices of major brands such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, NYDJ and Liz Claiborne, among others.
Whether you’re looking for a cute top for your Memorial Day cookout, a dress for a night out on the town, or jewelry to accessorize your new outfit, Shorely Chic Boutique carries a wide array of choices from designers including Draper James, Anna Cate, Bailey 44, Eileen Fisher, Jen7, MAAC London, Persifor, Bent by Courtney, Maria Dolores, Marie Oliver, Sita Murt, Susan Shaw, Tagua, Three Dots, and Tyler Boe.
The boutique will be open Memorial Day weekend Friday and Saturday (10am-9pm) and Sunday (10am-6pm), then daily (10am-6pm) through Father’s Day, after which the business moves into its summer hours of 10am-10pm daily. Shorely Chic Boutique is also available 24/7 online at shorelychicboutique.com.
Jason Dugan of Douglass Fudge.
Douglass Fudge
9600 Third Ave., Stone Harbor • 609-830-3077 • douglasscandies.com
Douglass Fudge is celebrating its centennial year in 2019, and owners Jason and James Dugan are excited to celebrate. From collectible tins and ornaments and events throughout the summer, to giveaways and limited-edition totes and boxes for all your sweet treats, customers will have a chance to celebrate, too.
“We make everything that we sell and it’s always fresh,” says Jason Dugan. “Our four main candy makers have all been with us for over four decades and they are true masters of their crafts. We do everything the old-fashioned way. We hand-coat a lot of the chocolates, the taffy in each box is hand-packed and not going up some machine, each piece of fudge is unique because we hand-cut it. We just try to do the little things to get that quality and homemade feel. We’re looking forward to celebrating the 100th and we want to thank all of our amazing customers, and hopefully we’ll be here for another 100 years.”
Douglass Fudge originated in Wildwood in 1919 and was established by Dugan’s great uncle, Charles Douglass. The company expanded to Stone Harbor in the early ’90s and operated the location until the early 2000s. When Jason and James were old enough to take over the business as fourth-generation owners about five years ago, one of the first things they decided to do was return to Stone Harbor and open a second location.
“It’s such a nice community and I really love the small-town vibe here,” Dugan adds. “The people are great, the events that go on here are great and it’s very centralized here on 96th Street and it’s really nice. We’re very blessed to be part of this community.”
The full-service candy store offers hundreds of products all made fresh daily. Whether you’re craving saltwater taffy, fudge or homemade chocolates, Douglass Fudge carries it all. Stop by for a quick hostess gift, fulfill your sweet tooth or plan for your big day with favors available in different sizes. The store is open daily, and 100th anniversary specials will be posted on the company’s social media accounts throughout the summer.
The Salt Spa team celebrates its grand opening. From left, Terry Dougherty-Holahan, Lea Gorodesky, Deanna Curran, and Fran Nevins.
Salt Spa at The Reeds
9601 Third Ave., Stone Harbor • 609-368-0100 • reedsatshelterhaven.com/salt-spa/
Salt Spa at The Reeds debuted in May with a grand-opening open house. Located across from The Reeds at Shelter Haven, the property was purchased before the hotel was built. Due to its proximity, the owners knew it would be an ideal location for an extension of the resort experiences and amenities they offer to locals and guests of both The Reeds and the greater community.
“Guest feedback is one of our most valuable tools in determining new amenity offerings,” says Emaleigh Kaithern, The Reeds’ marketing manager. “Based on input we’ve received over the past 6 years, we knew that they were seeking an elevated spa experience unlike any other in the state, so that’s what we created. From the attention to detail throughout the design process to the talented craftsmen who brought the vision to life, the luxurious fixtures and finishes to the exotic signature services including Soft Pack Floats, Brine Light Inhalation Therapy, and Turkish Bath experiences, you’ve never experienced a spa quite like this.”
Entering its seventh season in Stone Harbor, The Reeds at Shelter Haven has been recognized as a World’s Best Hotel by Condé Nast Traveler for the past two years and was voted Best Hotel in New Jersey in 2018. With the opening of the Salt Spa at The Reeds in addition to its five dining experiences, guests will have another amenity to enjoy during their stay.
In addition to the services Kaithern mentioned, the Salt Spa has a hair, makeup and nail studio and offers massages, facials, flotation therapy, waxing, tanning and more. It can accommodate group services as well as wedding parties to prep for the big day as plans call for the spa to be open year-round. The Salt Spa is open daily from 9am-5pm through the summer.
For a full list of signature services, visit reedsatshelterhaven.com/salt-spa/.
