(June 15, 2017) A growing number of shops in downtown Berlin are staying open later, as the nature of business there continues to become younger and more family-oriented.
Starting today, Thursday, at least half a dozen downtown shops have pledged to stay open until 7 p.m. or later Monday through Saturday.
Island Creamery opened in May, the second location after the original in Chincoteague, and lines of people extending out the door and onto the street are now a nightly occurrence.
“It’s surpassed any of our expectations,” manager Jen Sorrell said. “The volume is super high. I’ve got an amazing staff and all the people that walked through our doors have been super happy.”
Berlin hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and until 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Island Creamery has already blended well with other local businesses, using Burley Oak Brewing Company root beer in its ice cream floats. Coming soon, Sorrell said, are more flavors that use local ingredients.
“As the summer progresses, we get a lot more fresh fruit ice cream,” she said. “In July, blueberries and peaches are in season and our blueberry and peach ice cream are super-duper popular.”
To avoid the lines, Sorrell added, customers should come early. Between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. have been the slowest times.
“After lunch, the lines start and it doesn’t stop until we lock the door in the evening,” she said.
Fathom owners Hunter Smith and Devon Donahue moved to Main Street in February after operating Sea La Vie on Artisan’s Way for several years. The difference of just a few blocks, apparently, is significant.
“It’s been a huge difference,” Smith said. “The foot traffic is really picking up for us.”
“It’s great to be up here with the town events and it feels like we’re much more a part of it,” Donahue said. “That was a great spot back there, but we’ve definitely had more people find us on Main Street.”
Since opening, the store has added a modest men’s section. Summer clothes are in stock and the boutique will be open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Megan Cosman moved Patty Jean’s Boutique from Broad Street to Main Street last month. She operated without front windows for the first week, but still noticed a drastic uptick in sales.
“Being on Main Street has been amazing,” she said. “The traffic on Memorial Day weekend was incredible. We had a great crowd.”
Having a proper, glass storefront has also helped.
“People kept putting their hand through [the open space] going, ‘you have the cleanest windows in town!’” Cosman said. “It’s so nice to be able to see outside and not having any more silly jokes.”
She raved about her new landlord, Sonny Nguyen, who recently bought the building and is working on renovating the adjacent space, formerly the Berlin Shoe Box, for use as a nail salon.
“Sonny and his wife are amazing. They’re going to be a great asset to this town,” she said. “They’re been the biggest help and I think people should be really looking forward to [the salon].”
Cosman plans to stay open until 7 or 8 p.m., most nights this summer.
“I think being here and being open late in a new young, fun crowd downtown, and making it alive again will be a great thing for everyone,” Cosman said.
World of Toys had been on Main Street since 2012, but moved into a new, four-times-larger space across the street last month.
Owner Olga Kozhevnikova said the new location is more convenient for shoppers, and the visibility of the large front windows have been a major boost for her business.
“We’ve gotten huge compliments about how nice and easy to shop it is now, and our sales can prove that big-time,” she said. “The town was so busy Memorial Day weekend and that was also huge for us. We’re doing absolutely amazing.”
Kozhevnikova has extended her hours to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. She will stay open even later during art strolls and other town events.
“We’re thinking of staying open even later Fridays and Saturdays,” she said. “It used to be 5 o’clock and we were dead. In this store, we have people after 5 o’clock coming in, so we’ll definitely stay open for that. If customers are coming in, we are here.”
Several more established shops are also getting in on the act.
Sisters and Heart of Gold on Main Street, and Bruder Hill on Commerce Street, will stay open until 7 p.m. on Monday through Saturday.
Bruder Hill Owner Shelly Bruder plans to create flyers advertising later hours by all the businesses. She hopes to distribute those through downtown restaurants.
In the past, Bruder said her store benefitted from the earlier hours kept by most downtown shops.
“People get off the beach at around 4 o’clock and they want to come over to Berlin for a cocktail and walk around,” she said. “We’re pretty much here anyway because we always stay open, and we get people coming off the beaten path after everything else closes.”
Victorian Charm is open until 5 p.m. on most nights, but has stayed open until 8 p.m. on Friday nights for about a decade.
Nest, on the south end of Main Street across from the Berlin Visitor’s Center, will stay open until 7 p.m. on Friday. The boutique and gallery is also open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Starting today, Thursday, at least half a dozen downtown shops have pledged to stay open until 7 p.m. or later Monday through Saturday.
Island Creamery opened in May, the second location after the original in Chincoteague, and lines of people extending out the door and onto the street are now a nightly occurrence.
“It’s surpassed any of our expectations,” manager Jen Sorrell said. “The volume is super high. I’ve got an amazing staff and all the people that walked through our doors have been super happy.”
Berlin hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and until 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Island Creamery has already blended well with other local businesses, using Burley Oak Brewing Company root beer in its ice cream floats. Coming soon, Sorrell said, are more flavors that use local ingredients.
“As the summer progresses, we get a lot more fresh fruit ice cream,” she said. “In July, blueberries and peaches are in season and our blueberry and peach ice cream are super-duper popular.”
To avoid the lines, Sorrell added, customers should come early. Between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. have been the slowest times.
“After lunch, the lines start and it doesn’t stop until we lock the door in the evening,” she said.
Fathom owners Hunter Smith and Devon Donahue moved to Main Street in February after operating Sea La Vie on Artisan’s Way for several years. The difference of just a few blocks, apparently, is significant.
“It’s been a huge difference,” Smith said. “The foot traffic is really picking up for us.”
“It’s great to be up here with the town events and it feels like we’re much more a part of it,” Donahue said. “That was a great spot back there, but we’ve definitely had more people find us on Main Street.”
Since opening, the store has added a modest men’s section. Summer clothes are in stock and the boutique will be open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Megan Cosman moved Patty Jean’s Boutique from Broad Street to Main Street last month. She operated without front windows for the first week, but still noticed a drastic uptick in sales.
“Being on Main Street has been amazing,” she said. “The traffic on Memorial Day weekend was incredible. We had a great crowd.”
Having a proper, glass storefront has also helped.
“People kept putting their hand through [the open space] going, ‘you have the cleanest windows in town!’” Cosman said. “It’s so nice to be able to see outside and not having any more silly jokes.”
She raved about her new landlord, Sonny Nguyen, who recently bought the building and is working on renovating the adjacent space, formerly the Berlin Shoe Box, for use as a nail salon.
“Sonny and his wife are amazing. They’re going to be a great asset to this town,” she said. “They’re been the biggest help and I think people should be really looking forward to [the salon].”
Cosman plans to stay open until 7 or 8 p.m., most nights this summer.
“I think being here and being open late in a new young, fun crowd downtown, and making it alive again will be a great thing for everyone,” Cosman said.
World of Toys had been on Main Street since 2012, but moved into a new, four-times-larger space across the street last month.
Owner Olga Kozhevnikova said the new location is more convenient for shoppers, and the visibility of the large front windows have been a major boost for her business.
“We’ve gotten huge compliments about how nice and easy to shop it is now, and our sales can prove that big-time,” she said. “The town was so busy Memorial Day weekend and that was also huge for us. We’re doing absolutely amazing.”
Kozhevnikova has extended her hours to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. She will stay open even later during art strolls and other town events.
“We’re thinking of staying open even later Fridays and Saturdays,” she said. “It used to be 5 o’clock and we were dead. In this store, we have people after 5 o’clock coming in, so we’ll definitely stay open for that. If customers are coming in, we are here.”
Several more established shops are also getting in on the act.
Sisters and Heart of Gold on Main Street, and Bruder Hill on Commerce Street, will stay open until 7 p.m. on Monday through Saturday.
Bruder Hill Owner Shelly Bruder plans to create flyers advertising later hours by all the businesses. She hopes to distribute those through downtown restaurants.
In the past, Bruder said her store benefitted from the earlier hours kept by most downtown shops.
“People get off the beach at around 4 o’clock and they want to come over to Berlin for a cocktail and walk around,” she said. “We’re pretty much here anyway because we always stay open, and we get people coming off the beaten path after everything else closes.”
Victorian Charm is open until 5 p.m. on most nights, but has stayed open until 8 p.m. on Friday nights for about a decade.
Nest, on the south end of Main Street across from the Berlin Visitor’s Center, will stay open until 7 p.m. on Friday. The boutique and gallery is also open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.