Three entrepreneurs open new locations on Washington Street
CAPE MAY — As the city prepares for another bustling summer season, shoppers will have three new spots to visit on Washington Street.
What makes these three new shops special and vaguely familiar? All three are expansions of currently operating small businesses.
In the Washington Commons, shoppers will find both The Buoy Coffee Shop and Cape Mayniac, while Vagabond Boutique is located on the 500 block of the Washington Street Mall around the corner from its other location.
In a town where traffic ebbs and flows as much as the tides, change can be expected. For three local entrepreneurs, change means expanding to meet market demand and support the local economy.
The Buoy Coffee Shop Downtown joins owner Meghan Protasi’s business portfolio of the Buoy on the Promenade and Stockton Place Beachfront Eatery. Protasi, who grew up in Cape May, is looking forward to having a centrally located coffee shop that can stay open later into the season.
Vagabond Boutique has lived several lives in Cape May over the years, in different locations. The new spot on the Washington Street Mall is owner Mary Clark’s second in the city. Expanding her business allows Clark to deepen her connection with her vendors, who make high-quality, ethically made fashion. The boutique also carries a selection of locally made candles and jewelry.
Cape Mayniac is a new store for owner Dylan Gorman, who also operates Summer Sun Surf Shop. The boutique features a variety of merchandise reflecting a love for, or perhaps even a mania for, Cape May. For Gorman, the store is more than just retail; it’s a brand that represents a lifestyle.
Buoy Coffee owner floats a new project
CAPE MAY — Brand evolution is a component of thriving in a beach town. Business owners know their stores’ demographics and what customers are craving by keeping a pulse on the market.
Cape May small businesses are in the blood of local entrepreneur Meghan Protasi, who recently opened a second Buoy Coffee Shop in the Washington Street Commons at the start of April.
“I actually stumbled into the second location; what started as a text about advertising turned into learning the previous owners were thinking of selling.” Protasi said. “A few conversations later, it felt like the right fit for everyone.”
The new shop at 315 Washington St., formerly Out There Coffee, joins Protasi’s portfolio of businesses. She has managed Pete Smith’s Surf Shop on behalf of her family since 2010 and owns both The Buoy Coffee Shop on the Promenade and Stockton Place Beachfront Eatery.
Protasi’s aunt and uncle opened Pete Smith’s in 1983, and the business has stayed in the family under her leadership. Protasi opened the Promenade Buoy location in 2023, with Stockton Place joining the party mid-summer 2024.
“I grew up on the Washington Street Mall and spent so much time at my family’s business there,” she said. “It feels full circle to now have a shop of my own at the top of the mall. It gives us the chance to be part of that energy, while still keeping our beachside roots.”
The new location will extend Buoy Coffee’s season, with Protasi eager to build a year-round clientele and offer longer hours for local workers, residents, neighbors and all the visitors who pass through.
“I’m excited to keep this space a small, community-driven coffee shop where the focus is truly on coffee,” she said. “It’s also important to me to grow in a way that creates more consistent opportunities for our staff, especially during the quieter winter months.”
Protasi added that she is excited for a festive holiday season, something harder to capture on the beachfront as it gets colder and windier.
“It will be fun to have people experience both sides of The Buoy, from the beach to the mall,” she said. “More than anything, I’m just excited for the chance to grow the brand in my hometown.”
On what she has learned in opening a second coffee shop, Protasi said she wants to focus on what The Buoy does best: great coffee, specialty drinks and fresh pastries.
“Simple, but really well done,” Protasi said. “The first time around was figuring things out as I went. This time, I had a much clearer vision.”
She is continuing her relationship with Rival Bros. Coffee, a Philadelphia-based roaster, and plans to lean more into coffee and specialty drinks.
“I love our coffee, I have a cortado every morning,” Protasi said. “The menus [at both locations] will be very similar, but this space is smaller and doesn’t have a full kitchen, so we won’t offer a food menu.”
Finding the balance between running several businesses is a delicate dance. Protasi said she will see how managing her time goes, with a little balance, a lot of coffee and a great team.
Surf shop’s owner creates new brand
CAPE MAY — People who are fanatical, some might even say maniacs, about Cape May will find a treasure trove of themed merchandise at the new Cape Mayniac flagship store in the Washington Commons.
Owner Dylan Gorman, who also owns Summer Sun Surf Shop on the Washington Street Mall, opened the Cape Mayniac storefront at 315 Ocean St. in late April. The store features a variety of shirts, stickers, mugs, stuffed animals, pillows, candles and more.
The business came to be in an unorthodox manner, but not entirely uncommon for a small town. Gorman bought the Cape Mayniac namesake from its creator, Kate Chadwick.
“My background was working at It’s a Breeze and we would always get asked all the time, ‘Do you know about Cape Mayniac?’ and ‘Do you carry Cape Mayniac?’” Gorman said. “I used to think it was a genius idea. Why didn’t I think of that?”
He added that the opportunity fell into his lap when Chadwick stopped by Summer Sun and told him she had been thinking about selling her brand.
“She wanted it to become a retail store and said she thought I would do a good job at what Cape Mayniac could be,” Gorman said, adding that several months later, a deal was struck.
This summer will be Gorman’s second year operating Summer Sun, which has allowed him to understand the Cape May customer and, subsequently, help with the learning curve of opening a second retail storefront.
“In terms of getting product designs, you’re throwing things at a wall and once something sticks, you have to take it and run with it,” he said. “That’s what the business will evolve into.”
The 26-year-old entrepreneur said he is very driven by high standards at both stores, and his dedicated staff allows him to bounce between them.
“You have to be able to delegate, because if you don’t delegate, you’re not going to be able to run two stores,” Gorman said. “You have to learn how to manage people, be understanding and flexible. I don’t know how it’s going to work out in July, maybe ask me that in August.”
Developing a brand
Gorman’s background in resort wear has been an asset not only in curating the products but also in developing a storyline for Cape Mayniac, a pivotal point in the brand’s evolution.
He worked with a California-based designer to create a logo, including providing fun facts about the town and color preferences.
“She came back with an old sailor guy with a crab claw for arms, and I was like, ‘That’s Captain Cornelius Mey, the guy who discovered Cape May,’” Gorman said. “Who better to be a Cape Mayniac than an old, salty, cranky, funny sailor guy?”
Gorman said he knew dog T-shirts sell incredibly well in Cape May, so Buoy the dog was the perfect addition to Capt. Mey in representing Cape Mayniac.
“I think once people figure out who [Capt. Mey] is, that will sell the brand and become cool merch to wear,” he said. “Summer Sun is largely my demographic (Gen Z) and I wear it all the time.”
When Gorman bought the brand, he didn’t initially picture Cape Mayniac as something he would wear, but rather as a brand catering to a family-oriented demographic. When he got the new logo, it was the final puzzle piece that clicked into place for everything.
“But ever since I got the new logo, I [think it] crosses demographic lines,” he said. “Not only could I put a whale version of it on a kid or infant tee, but I can also put the sailor guy on a T-shirt or hoodie and I would wear that.”
On his vision for the future of the brand, Gorman hopes to collaborate with other local businesses to help Cape Mayniac become synonymous with the city.
He welcomes local brands to reach out to him for partnership opportunities.
“I think people will eventually seek out Cape Mayniac as a central hub for their Cape May experience,” Gorman said. “I would love for other businesses to join me in a modern way of thinking; there’s not a scarcity mindset. We can all do very well together, collaborate and show people they’re not just buying a product, there’s a purpose behind it.”
Vagabond’s owner laying down roots
CAPE MAY — Like a waif wandering from place to place, Vagabond Boutique has lived many lives in the Cape May area before settling down into its second location at 510 Washington St. on the Washington Street Mall.
Owner Mary Clark opened Vagabond Boutique on the corner in the rear of Washington Street and Carpenters Lane in 2023, this summer serving as her fourth season. The small pink building has an intimate feel, with an artful layout and an ample selection of unique clothing items and accessories.
“The original Vagabond location was on Pacific Avenue in Wildwood, then after that it was on Perry Street side of Congress Hall, then inside Carpenter’s Square Mall,” Clark said. “Then we opened in Philly, and we’ve been in the same location in Old City for 26 years.”
The Cape May boutique focuses on high-quality, ethically made fashions created with eco-friendly materials. Vagabond works with suppliers who share their commitment to sustainability.
The store also carries unique lines, vintage items and locally made jewelry by Bethany. Vagabond also carries Stellapop, a line of items hand-knitted by Clark.
At the end of last year, she found out there would be a new storefront available on the Washington Street Mall, and she knew she wanted to expand.
“A huge positive [of opening a second location] is knowing the items from the line and what items sell within my fair trade and sustainable framework,” Clark said. “Another positive is knowing the Cape May customer better.”
With both Cape May stores just a hundred steps apart, Clark said she is learning to balance her time between the shops.
“My kids come here to see me, and it’s good because I’m in an accessible place,” Clark jokes. “They can come see me whenever they need to and work, if they want. In the summer, I’ll have more employees and be able to take time off.”
The new Vagabond location, the (unrecognizable) location of the former Toy Shop of Cape May, is decorated in an Old Havana, Cuba theme. Clark said one of the shop’s focuses is a mother-daughter theme to cater to a variety of ages.
The brightly lit store is well-appointed with unique art, several seating areas, dressing rooms and a vibrant selection of clothes. The shop has an assortment of Cape Candle Works natural soy wax candles and Jewelry by Bethany.
“The foot traffic on the mall is much better than on Carpenters Lane,” Clark said. “And being next to Kohr Bros. is fun because it’s open long hours and there are always people there.”
A line of clothing Vagabond Boutique carries is Tomas, made by a Philadelphia artist who hand-paints the fabrics. Other popular lines include Silas Bags (handmade in New Jersey), Maison Marigold and lines from the U.S., Spain and Peru.
“I’m also going to lean more heavily into a line from France called Collette, that I would just get in small batches,” Clark said. “They do a lot of really nice, one-size dresses that are loose-fitting and easy linen.”
Clark’s favorite item in her new shop is a dress from SIXXTA, a Colombian line. The sleeveless cotton dress has a relaxed fit and a colorful pattern, with black buttons down the sides.
“This collection’s theme is celebration and birthday parties,” she said. “The [design] is meant to be piped icing.”
Differentiating the two Vagabond shops is a work in progress. Clark said she plans to add more accessories, such as jewelry, hats and belts. The smaller shop will continue to carry several racks of vintage items.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
