CAPE MAY — Jamie Merlino and Candace Carpio, the partners behind Wild Roots Provisions, Cape May’s newest snacking headquarters, recently watched their dreams take flight.
Nestled along the strip of shops in the 300 block of Beach Avenue (316 Beach Ave., to be exact), the business opened at the end of May.
The store features a grab-and-go cooler, a variety of flavorful beverages, freshly prepared foods with a rotating special menu, and a unique assortment of snacks, spices, tinned fish, cooking oils, sauces, books, napkins and tablecloths.
Merlino and Carpio have a background in hospitality and the food and beverage industry. Opening Wild Roots Provisions in this storefront was their dream, one that took a lot of patience and waiting for the right timing.
The partners did not expect to end up back in Cape May County, where Merlino previously lived. A stopover visit to see family turned into eight years of living here.
“You can’t leave here right before the season, and Candace was up for it,” Merlino said, adding that she went back to working with chefs she had previously worked with, and Carpio worked as the general manager at the Washington Inn.
Searching for the right home for Wild Roots Provisions took years. Carpio said they had not been able to find an opportunity that worked, and it has been quite the process. Merlino said they looked at their current location, and it was always in their minds.
Earlier this year, the call finally came through — it was available.
“It’s amazing and a testament to what we wanted, being in the center of the community,” Carpio said.
Merlino added that she was glad everything had fallen through in the past, ultimately allowing them to end up in their dream location.
Finding their footing while opening a new story was made easier by the community’s involvement. Friends, family and neighbors attended the soft opening and helped make it a successful weekend.
“We always say it takes a village, and we are usually that village,” Merlino said. “We had so many people show up for us in all different kinds of ways, [like] starting a meal train, helping us scrub things down, friends dropping off ladders and flowers. We were just blown away and continue to be blown away by the [community].”
Flavors in the shop
Prior to returning to the East Coast, Merlino and Carpio traveled the world together, visiting more than 20 countries. The products in the store reflect their travels, with foods from the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Bali, Mexico, Los Angeles, California, Hawaii and Maine.
“We went on a tour of a pepper farm in Cambodia, and now we sell it,” Merlino said. “That’s one of the most exciting things, to bring these products we’ve stumbled across, so that it doesn’t have to be so far to get these flavors. Different flavors can be accessible and approachable.”
On the shelf, visitors to Wild Roots Provisions can pick up a package of Chomis Gomis, which Merlino and Carpio first tried from a gas station in California.
“We turned the car around and went back and bought little bags of everything,” Carpio said. “Now we’re carrying these big bags. They taste like those old-school strawberry straws that came in a pack, but richer.”
One of Carpio’s favorite items is the Shiso sour cream popcorn, which she describes as tasting like sour cream and onion chips. Shiso is Japanese basil.
While living in Hawaii, Merlino and Carpio would go camping and pack food for several days at a time. That sandwich, appropriately dubbed “Road trip Italian,” is on their menu and includes soppressata, salami, provolone, red onion, mozzarella, arugula and garlic aioli.
“It was the perfect combination of things we had in our van fridge and ever since, that’s been our go-to sandwich we make for road trips,” Merlino said. “It has to come with us.”
Carpio’s favorite fresh pick is the Daddy Tom, which features slow-roasted pork, sharp provolone and roasted long hots on a fresh roll.
“I never thought I’d be making those, but my family is from South Philly,” Merlino said.
In the beverage cooler, Carpio points out the non-alcoholic drink options, as well as stock on their shelves, which can be made at home.
“We have things that you can grab [and take] to the beach and feel like you’re having a Negroni or a spritz or margarita; we have versions of that,” Carpio said. “We also have fun fizzes in flavors like Yuzu, and passion fruit sodas.”
Carpio grew up in Miami, so many of the tropical beverage flavors are ones she was familiar with from her childhood.
As the season progresses, Merlino and Carpio plan to experiment and rotate options on their menu. They hope to offer special local lunch boxes or brown bag options by the fall.
“We’ll see what makes sense for our setup and add fun specials,” Merlino said. “We’re getting [produce] from local farms. It’s really cool to have all these things at our fingertips.”
They hope their shop will feel welcoming to both tourists and the local community. Carpio said they want to make prices affordable.
“You don’t have to get lunch here every day, just come and say hi,” Merlino said. “We probably have something new for you to try. I’m going to find something for you to try every time you come in, because snacks are my love language.”
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Eventually, the store will be open six days a week. Follow on Facebook and Instagram @wildrootsprovisions for updated hours and weekly specials.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
