This newsletter is a publication of Rehoboth Beach Main Street. President: Greer Maneval. Executive Director: Dan Slagle. Newsletter Executive Editor / Communications Committee Co-Chair: Peter J. Pizzolongo. Reporters/Editors: Dan Slagle, Jerry Filbin, James Mease, Cindy Lovett, Ed Chrzanowski, Peter Beck, & Lisa Schlosser.

We’re pleased to report that our membership has grown much larger, yet again this year, and we hope that it’s a reflection of the value members see in supporting what we do. We also want to acknowledge the hard work of our Executive Director, Dan Slagle, in reaching out to our city businesses to inform them about what we do for them. We are tremendous-ly grateful to the city for the subsidy they provide to us, and we hope that this funding is a recognition of the benefits we provide and the importance of a dynamic in-town economy to the welfare of the entire community. Our lively downtown brings in parking revenue, which is a major component of the City Budget, as well as the hotel tax revenue. Rehoboth Beach’s reputation as the heart of Delaware’s Culinary Coast is also important to the city economy, and we hope what we’ve done to support local dining and retail has contributed.

But, we can’t do it without you, our members. Membership revenue is a significant source of our operational cost, and we operate on a shoestring. We are staffed by 1.2 FTEs and so far in 2021, over 3000 hours of volunteer time. It is very much a community effort done by many out of love for this community. So, here is the wind-up and the pitch. Invoices for membership renewal will be going out in October for the 2022 calendar year, and we hope you will renew your membership and consider upping your level of support. For more information on membership, you can visit our website or give the office a call at 302-227-2772. And if you are not a member, but you are seeing this newsletter, please look at the businesses and events that we highlight and consider joining RBMS (as a Business Member or Friend) to help us support our businesses, beautify our town, and promote Rehoboth Beach—the Nation’s Summer Capital, the jewel on the middle-Atlantic coast, and the place we call home.

As a reminder, The RBMS Official Guide to Downtown Rehoboth Beach continues to be available across town in news boxes and hotel lobbies. It is packed full of things to do and places to go while visiting downtown Rehoboth Beach. Be sure and pick up a copy for friends and family. And don’t miss our Save-the-Date feature for your future planning!

We welcome Greenman Juice Bar and Bistro as a Partner member.

For information about the RBMS levels of membership, go to Join | Rehoboth Beach Main Street (downtownrb.com).

The Wooden Indian was established in 1977 and became the destination for preeminent giftware. Paul Roscosky and Joe Yasik, the current owners, have continued the legacy by providing distinctive gift items for people with discriminating taste. Year after year, THE BEST OF DELAWARE has awarded The Wooden Indian its seal of approval for the store’s exceptional bridal registry and selection of wedding gifts for the home and hostess gifts.

The Wooden Indian is located at 25 Baltimore Avenue. Explore their website to view samples of the elegant items and collections that they carry. Please visit http://www.woodenindianltd.com/. For more information, contact The Wooden Indian by email: info@woodenindianltd.com or by phone 302-227-8331 or 800-225-8331. 

The Purple Parrot Grill has been a mainstay in Rehoboth Beach for over two decades. The restaurant and bar are known as a place filled with positive energy, delicious food, and loads of fun. Painted bright purple, green, and yellow, the Parrot stands out among the other buildings along Rehoboth Avenue. Decorated with a Key West beach vibe, the walls are lined with bright cheerful artwork as well as dollar bills left by thousands of satisfied customers.

The Purple Parrot Grill, at 137 Rehoboth Avenue, is housed in one of the oldest standing structures in Rehoboth. Originally constructed on Baltimore Avenue and the oceanfront, the Victorian era building was moved farther west in 1890. Opened to great fanfare in 1999, the Parrot moved in 2005 to its current location on Rehoboth Avenue. A major expansion in 2010 led to the construction of the extremely popular Biergarten that runs along the side of the building and leads to Wilmington Avenue.

The restaurant and bar are open year-round for lunch and dinner, providing casual beach dining as well as a fabulous array of cocktails. The daily menu and drink specials vary. Special event nights include Karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights at 9:00pm as well as drag night Sunday at 10:00pm!

Patrons can order online at http://www.ppgrill.com for pickup or delivery.

There are few things as treasured in a community as a local bookstore—and Rehoboth Beach is so fortunate to have one of the best in the country right in our town: Browseabout Books! Located on the second block of Rehoboth Avenue, Browseabout was founded by the Crane family in 1975 and is now owned by long-time co-owner Susan Kehoe and her husband, Matt. Under Susan's leadership, Browseabout Books has expanded and reinvented itself many times while evolving into one of the nation's top independent bookstores. Browseabout is known not only for books, but also for book signings and a fantastic selection of toys, stationery, and unique gifts. Browseabout is open 363 days a year and is a must visit stop for residents and guests alike. 

"We are honored to be a part of the vibrant downtown Rehoboth Beach business community as a favorite destination for three generations of families! We are dedicated to giving back to our community through donations and partnerships with local schools, literacy programs, and animal shelters." Stop by Browseabout for featured book signings by famous authors, more than 35,000 book titles, great coffee, and dog treats for your visit with your pup. Visit Browseabout Books at 133 Rehoboth Avenue and go to Browseabout Books | Well Read Since 1975 for a list of in-person and virtual events!  

Federal Fritter & Bistro is an exciting new dining venue that opened at 62 Rehoboth Avenue last spring. The owners, Ellen Kassoff and Chef Todd Gray, operate the renowned Equinox Restaurant in downtown Washington, DC. Luckily for us, they recently brought their most popular dish from Equinox to the shore!

For more information on Federal Fritter and Bistro, check out Federalfritter.com or call 302-727-5609.

Rehoboth Ale House is proud to serve Rehoboth Beach and the surrounding areas with our constant rotation of craft beers, cocktails, food, and live music. The home of the iconic “hops wall”, Rehoboth Ale House is also famous for being named Delaware’s 2020 Best Beer Bar by craftbeer.com and the Best Delaware Beach Restaurant of 2021 by Mix 99.5 WJBR. They offer a full menu year-round, 20 taps for their wide selection of craft beers, and 17 TVs for those who want to keep up with their favorite teams (including the NFL Ticket). Offering countless beer releases, tastings, and events, the Rehoboth Ale House has something for the average beer drinker as well as the expert beer aficionado. Rehoboth Ale House prides itself on hiring year-round and bringing in the best team members who treat you with respect. Their staff is passionate about their jobs and are enthusiastic to share their knowledge and point everyone in the direction of their new favorite beverage. For the entertainment calendar, go to Upcoming Events – Rehoboth Ale House.

The Scene Shop

The Scene Shop at 33 Baltimore Avenue has quickly become known for its cool, casual, hand-picked collection of interesting home furnishings and decor. Kim Sullivan and Debra Sharrocks use their many years in the design world—home and commercial—to bring you an eclectic yet cohesive experience. From must-have floor coverings, mirrors, and the perfect cocktail table, to fun portable bonfires, cocktail infusion kits, and beachy blankets, all have the perfect downtime vibe. 

[Editor’s Note: This is a shortened version of an article that appeared in the Cape Gazette. The full article can be found in the August 31, 2021, edition of the Cape Gazette.]

A dedicated group of 24 volunteers met at Grove Park on August 11 (in 95-degree heat!) to discuss various projects underway and plan for the future. Formed in 2019, Rehoboth in Bloom initially placed 20 planters on the downtown streets of Rehoboth. Now, with 60 plus Bloom volunteers, the group is tending 98 planters around town!

If you are interested in volunteering for Rehoboth in Bloom, please reach out to Cindy Lovett at info@pdlovett.com. Donations to the group can be made by following this link: https://www.downtownrb.com/bloom

All hands on deck! On the last week of October, there will be a crazy flurry of activity on the first blocks of Baltimore and Wilmington Avenues, and the first and second blocks of Rehoboth Avenue. The Rehoboth in Bloom Crew are scheduled to remove the flowers from all planters, place them in paper bags, and place them at the curb to be removed by Rehoboth’s city employees. And this is the BIG News! The Pedestrian Planters will be removed from the streets! The planters will be placed by the city in pre-designated and approved locations in front of our businesses. Ten of the planters will be placed in city storage for future use. Pansies and kale from Peppers Greenhouse, along with decorative “trees,” will be planted as we transition into fall and winter. We cannot thank the city enough for all the help and support for Rehoboth in Bloom!!

Rehoboth Beach Main Street will again be hosting the Community Unity Dinner! This year’s pasta dinner will be held on Sunday, December 5, 2021, from 4:30 to 7:30pm. Join friends, neighbors, and downtown merchants for this annual dinner, which includes children’s activities, holiday music, a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, performances of Nutcracker and by the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, and an ice cream bar. $20.00 per person, children under 10 FREE. Dinner will be provided by the Big Fish Charitable Foundation. Tickets can be purchased after November 1 at http://bitly/Community_Unity_Tickets or by contacting the RBMS Office (302-227-2772). For more information, contact Jen Carroll at jcarrollpink@gmail.com. 

The Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market, established in 2006, runs every Tuesday in Grove Park from the first Tuesday in May to the last Tuesday in October from 10:00am to 2:00pm and is more than just a place to get locally sourced products. According to founder Pat Coluzzi, “The Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market is a unique community gathering spot that draws together year-around residents, part-time residents, and guests. People love to support our local vendors, visit with neighbors and friends, and listen to area musicians.” The Farmers Market was created to give residents and visitors access to fresh produce within the City of Rehoboth Beach. There are now between 24-34 vendors at the market, all from within 100 miles of Rehoboth Beach, who sell local produce and food or plant-related crafts. Mark your calendars for a very special event: The Rehoboth Beach Holiday Market is held every year in Grove Park on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day from 12:00–3:00pm. 

LaVonne and Tom Wontorek moved to Rehoboth Beach from Wisconsin in 2006 when Tom became Town Manager in Lewes. Since moving to Delaware, they have been active in various volunteer programs and activities. The Wontoreks are the consummate Rehoboth Beach Main Street volunteers! They are often seen around town distributing posters and the RBMS Official Guide to Downtown Rehoboth Beach. The Wontoreks have also helped Executive Director Dan Slagle with various tasks in the office. In addition, LaVonne is a former member of the Organization Committee.

LaVonne has volunteered with various thrift shops including the ones operated by Beebe Hospital, Veterans, and Bridging the Gap. Both LaVonne and Tom have been active with the Cape Henlopen Food Basket, volunteering to serve eligible residents; LaVonne has been active ordering the necessary food from the Delaware Food Program and from local grocers; Tom has set up a program to computerize the record-keeping for the Food Basket. Tom is a Board member of the Rehoboth Beach Public Library. The Wontoreks have been active volunteers with the annual Rehoboth Beach Film Festival, organized by the Rehoboth Beach Film Society.

Did you see them—the wonderful new banners on the light poles on Rehoboth Avenue? They are there to help make our main street attractive and inviting, and they are a stand-out success because of their design and manufacture. These and so many other things we put on display, such as the Respect Rehoboth posters and leaflets, posters for various events, business cards, and all of our other on-the-street graphics are produced for us by Arena Signs. We are grateful for the discounts they provide, as well as the thoughtful design and speedy production for our promotional material. Arena Signs is expert at a wide variety of promotional products including flags and event displays. They also design and produce awards and gifts, graphics for vehicles and boats, commercial signage, graphic design, and LASER engraving. Although they are not in downtown Rehoboth Beach, we wanted to give a shout-out to Arena Signs as a supporter of and valued vendor for Rehoboth Beach Main Street. For more information, contact Ed at 302-644-8300 or email ed@arena-signs.com. Tell Ed that RBMS sent ya!

The Clear Space Theatre Company, a Rehoboth Beach Main Street Business Partner, is a 501(c)3 cultural organization, founded in 2004. The theatre is located at 20 Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. 

Clear Space Theatre has announced the plays and musicals scheduled for the 2022 Season, Blurring Lines and Breaking Rules. The performances will be:

For ticket sales, go to: Tickets » Clear Space Theatre.

In addition, Max Chlumecky (Summer 2019) was seen in an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit as Steve Lang; the episode first aired on April 15, 2021. Jana Jackson performed with the cast of Little Shop of Horrors on The Tonight Show on September 14. (Jana is to the right of Seymour [Jeremy Jordan] in the picture above.)

It is a weekend for deals and fabulous finds: Shopping in downtown Rehoboth Beach! The Fall Sidewalk Sale begins Friday and ends on Sunday, running from 10:00am to 8:00pm daily (store hours may vary). NOTE: THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT.

Nominations are open for the Rehoboth Beach Main Street 2021 Cottage and Town Awards. The awards recognize residential and commercial property owners who contribute to the “charm and beauty and history of Rehoboth Beach through architectural and landscape architectural renovation, restoration, and preservation.” Property must be within the city limits, for projects completed between July 2020 and August 2021. Submissions are due by 5:00pm, October 8. Winners will be notified on October 18. Questions and submissions should be addressed to Suzie Martin, Chair, Rehoboth Beach Main Street Cottage and Town Awards, via email MSTCAward@gmail.com. 

Join the Boardwalk Buddy Walk Fund as the Rehoboth Beach community unites for a common cause and raises funds for the 2021 Boardwalk Buddy Walk®. Whether you have Down syndrome, know someone who does, or just want to show your support, take the first step and donate or register today! Help the Boardwalk Buddy Walk Fund spread the word. All are welcome for a day of celebration! For more information, go to https://www.ds-stride.org/boardwalkbuddywalk

Baltimore Avenue, 2^nd block

CAMP Rehoboth’s 6th Annual Block Party will once again be held on the second block of Baltimore Avenue. Join for a day of celebration and performances! Check out the many participating vendors, including local restaurants, caterers, businesses, non-profits, and other organizations. For more information, go to https://www.camprehoboth.com/events/blockparty

TRUE BLUE JAZZ is focused on “Straight Ahead” or REAL Jazz, featuring songs of the Great American Standards Songbook from 1900 to the present day. From the birth of the Blues and Dixieland Jazz to the popular tunes that became the soundtrack of America, TBJAZZ features innovative interpretation and musical improvisation of these songs arising from American stage plays, radio, television, recording artists, and feature films. For more information, go to True Blue Jazz.

The 2021 Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival entertainers will include Blood, Sweat and Tears; Vincent Ingala; the Royal Scam; Damien Escobar; Najee; the “2021 Artist of the Year” Maysa; and many more performers! For more information, go to Home (rehobothjazz.com)

Clear Space Theatre presents "The Rocky Horror Show," Fridays at 7:00pm; Saturdays at 7:00pm and 11:00pm; and Sundays at 2:00pm. That sweet transvestite and his motley crew of actors are at it again as they “Time Warp” into this kitschy rock 'n' roll, sci-fi gothic musical. A humorous tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the late 1940s through the early 1970s, the musical tells the story of a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and coming to the home of a mad transvestite scientist, Dr Frank N. Furter, unveiling his new creation, a sort of Frankenstein-style monster in the form of an artificially made, fully grown, physically perfect muscle man named Rocky Horror, complete "with blond hair and a tan." For more information and to purchase tickets go to  https://www.clearspacetheatre.org/shows/halloween-horror-show/

31st Annual Sea Witch^® Festival

Bigger and better than ever, including more entertainment, more activities, and more fun! Keep checking for updated info: https://www.beach-fun.com/sea-witch-halloween-fiddlers-festival.html.

here:  https://cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net/document/69810/Draft%20Ordinance%20re%20Commercial%20Gross%20Floor%20Area%20-%201.pdf?handle=C7253758A92A48F5AC13A818A9FBE0D9

Members of the public who wish to speak will be required to pre-register with Ann Womack, City Secretary, at awomack@cityofrehoboth.com, at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting. You may also e-mail the Mayor and Commissioners at commissioners@cityofrehoboth.com.