CAPE MAY — Goodbye, summer and hello, quieter days.
As the summer heat gives way to breezy, fall days, the merchants of Cape May are reflecting on this summer and looking forward to the last quarter of the year.
According to anecdotal evidence, the season was extremely busy, with the city experiencing continued high levels of tourism. There were many days when traffic entering and exiting the island was backed up on both bridges.
In West Cape May, the West End Garage at 484 W. Perry St. is home to more than 60 vendors under one roof. Dana Marston, who owns Circa Dee, said it was her best season in 14 years.
“It seems that a new generation of visitors has discovered Cape May and what makes the city so unique,” Marston said. “We continue to welcome our loyal customers who have patronized Cape May for decades, but notably, more new visitors are making it a must-visit destination.”
This summer presented Marston with the opportunity to offer a new boutique, Leather Dee, which offers quality leather goods.
“The season’s momentum just keeps going and there are a number of fall festivals lined up that draw shoppers back into town,” Marston said. “Although it’s still technically summer, Christmas is already on our mind.”
Marston added that the West Cape May Christmas Parade, which takes place the first weekend in December, is one of her busiest retail days of the year.
Follow Circa Dee on Facebook/Instagram @circadee, and Leather Dee @leather.dee on Instagram.
As newcomers to Cape May discovered the many small businesses that make up the fabric of the town, visitors also found some newly opened shops such as Wild Roots Provisions at 316 Beach Ave.
Cape May’s newest snacking headquarters features freshly prepared foods with a rotating special menu, a grab-and-go cooler, a variety of flavorful beverages and a unique assortment of snacks, spices, sauces, tinned fish, books, cooking oils, napkins and tablecloths.
“Our first season was fantastic,” owner Jamie Merlino said. “It was great to meet so many new faces and we were blown away by the support from our local community.”
This fall, Merlino said she and her partner, Candace Carpio, hope to host some after-hours events.
“We can’t wait to introduce fall flavors to our current offerings,” Merlino added.
Just a few steps down from Wild Roots is Blue Bottle Art, at 309 Beach Ave. in the Akroteria. Owner Maggie Senatore makes one-of-a-kind pieces of whimsical sea glass art. No two pieces are alike.
“The Blue Bottle Art beach shack at the Akroteria was busier than ever and [I] literally could not keep the walls restocked one single week, all summer long,” Senatore said. “It was such a blessing to meet so many incredible people and see so many returning faces to the Akroteria.”
In addition to her shop, Senatore sold her art every Saturday at the Wildwood Farmers Market, as well as having it available in several local stores.
“I’m so excited for the fall and holiday events to begin and am especially looking forward to Congress Hall at Christmastime,” Senatore said. “Blue Bottle Art will enjoy five long weekends of selling and fun at their Winter Wonderland.”
Senatore also plans to open custom orders, which allow pagtrons to create any idea they have in mind, for any occasion. To see event updates and custom openings, follow along on Facebook/Instagram @bluebottleart.
After four summers, Alexa D’Amico continues to enjoy her passion for design and creating eco-conscious fashion as owner of The Days Sustainable Apparel.
The Days, located at 660 Washington St., sells sustainable apparel made from plant-based fibers, hand-designed and ethically manufactured in the United States.
“Each season provides us our loyal returning customers, which is so amazing,” D’Amico said. “It also provides opportunity for a brand new audience as well, [which] helps tremendously in continuing to spread our brand’s message.”
For D’Amico, it is not too early to start thinking about the winter holiday season.
“I’m currently working through a custom order list for [the] holidays,” she said. “A lot of requests for custom-designed, upcycled bags, accessories, etc., make the perfect gift for the eco-conscious fashionista.”
While The Days also offers a variety of upcycled designer products, not everything is a name label.
“I’m currently upcycling an old uniform [that has] sentimental value into a custom bag,” D’Amico added.
For more information, follow The Days Sustainable Apparel on Facebook @thedaysswimwear and Instagram @thedayscapemay.
For those who enjoy or are interested in a zero-waste lifestyle, Good Deeds Market at 31 Perry St. offers a unique selection of refillable, reusable, compostable and natural products.
“This summer we saw strong customer engagement, with many visitors actively browsing and exploring our offerings,” owner Jacki D’Amato said. “While market volatility led to more cautious spending, and tariffs introduced some supply-chain challenges that impacted product availability, we remained focused on delivering value and quality.”
Despite the challenges, D’Amato said she is looking forward to the remainder of the year.
“As we head into the fall and holiday season, we’re optimistic and excited to bring the magic our customers look forward to every year,” she said.
Follow Good Deeds Market on Facebook/Instagram @gooddeedsmarket.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
