By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY — While shopping in Ocean City’s award-winning downtown is popular in the summer, it remains so even after Labor Day, when there are fewer people around and the weather is cooler.
Gina Miele, standing outside Island Gypsy at the corner of Eighth Street and Asbury Avenue with her sister and mother, said it was their second visit this year.
“I like that the stores are not the typical stores you find in malls and all across America. They are unique and a lot of hand-made things, a lot of local things. I’m very artsy and I like the vintage shops as well,” she said Thursday, Sept. 17, noting that it was their first time visiting in September.
“I love it. It’s a little less crowded, the weather is nice, so beautiful. So I think I like it better than July,” the Holmdel, Monmouth County, resident said.
Miele said she likes to shop for antiques, clothing and vintage items, but mostly was enjoying time with her family.
“Just walking with my mother and sister, popping in and out of shops, relaxing and enjoying ourselves,” Miele said.
Mother Cecelia Miele said these occasions are rarer and rarer as her daughters raise their own families.
“We don’t get a lot of time to do that because they have children — I have a lot of grandchildren — so when we can get some time alone just mother and daughters it’s always special,” she said.
Lisa Miele, of Middletown Township, said she would return again in the fall.
“I love the people, being near the ocean and boardwalk. The beautiful weather and this time of year it’s really, really nice — not too quiet and not too many crowds,” she said.
Inside, manager Linda Banner said it’s been pretty steady.
“A lot of the kids that are virtual students are still around,” she said. “And our normal this-time-of-year customers are here. A lot of people always come after Labor Day. It’s calmer this time of year and a more mature crowd.”
Daureen Heffner, of Mohnton, Pa., was shopping at Mia’s Christmas Gallery.
Heffner said she has been visiting Ocean City since she was a girl.
“As we got older and got married, we kept coming down every year,” she said.
Now her daughter Leslie Garner, 34, whose 3-month-old son Benson was wrapped up in a baby sling, is following in her parents’ footsteps. She and her husband grew up coming here and now like to bring their own children.
“I like the family atmosphere,” she said. “I appreciate that there is really no alcohol, so it lets us bring our family out and about. We like going to the boardwalk, riding bikes and, of course, the beach.”
She said she likes shopping downtown but her husband and kids like to go to the boardwalk.
“That’s why we are here with just the ladies right now,” she said.
Garner said shopping at Mia’s is a family tradition.
“We always get a Christmas ornament to take home for each year that we are here,” she said, adding that they generally visit in early summer or late summer to make it more affordable.
“We have little kids so it doesn’t matter that school is back in session,” she said. “It’s not so hot and not so crowded, which is nice.”
Mia’s worker Brooke Schatzman said the business has been great since Labor Day.
“All summer’s been extra busy. We were surprised but pleasantly. A lot of foot traffic, sales are up for sure,” Schatzman said, adding that ornaments are their top-seller.
“It’s a family tradition — ‘We have to get our Ocean City ornament’ — and they get something special for that season,” she said.
Owners Jim and Jane Saile owned the boardwalk site before moving downtown in 2018. Schatzman said they do better in the offseason downtown than when on the boardwalk.
Also shopping at Mia’s were Julie Grimm, 44, and mother Linda Grimm, 73.
Linda said she has been visiting Ocean City for 50 years and comes every year, but generally during the summer.
“This is one of the first times we have come after Labor Day, just to get away for a few nights,” said Julie Grimm, who lives outside Philadelphia. “We love coming back and it makes the going home after summer not so sad when you know you can come back again.”
They also were enjoying some mother-daughter time.
“My mom and I are here for a few days and we’re without the kids. Now that the kids are gone we can actually enjoy the adult time shopping and relaxing a little more,” she said. “It’s a very nice time — there are less kids here, it’s more quiet and peaceful and the weather is still nice.”
Grimm said she, her sister and mother spent three days at the Tahiti Inn on the boardwalk.
“Everything that we missed on our main vacation we get to make up, come here and look around again,” she said.
Outside Spoon and Sip, Chris Myers, 32, with his wife, Angela, 31, and children Gracie, 3, and Christopher, 1, were enjoying some time downtown as they prepare for their first winter on the island. They have owned a shore home for years and now that he can work from home, they sold their primary residence in Delaware County, Pa., and moved here for good.
“We’ve always had the beach house so we were like, ‘Why not just live down there,’” the medical device salesman said. “It’s pretty neat.”
He said they have been in town in September and October but never for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Shop owner Britney Stein, 21, a 2017 graduate of Ocean City High School, said she had a good summer. She said things were a little different this year.
“I think it was a late start — my September has been better than my June,” she said. “We did a lot more online orders, which was great. It balanced the crowds because you know Ocean City comes all at once, so having that really helped my girls balance everything.”
Stein said a strong fall so far is making up for a late start due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since Labor Day, things haven’t slowed down much. Normally we’re out here hanging out out front enjoying the fall, but we have been helping a lot of customers and still seeing the same people we saw all summer, so it looks like a lot of people are staying,” Stein said. “The cooler weather is not keeping people away.”
She said the downtown is generally busy when it’s cloudy or cool during the heart of the season and that has carried over into the late summer.
“We do good down on the avenue when it’s not beach weather. We get the extra flow of things when people want to shop and can’t really lay on the beach any longer,” she said.
Stein said all signs are pointing to a strong shoulder season.
“There is definitely a second crowd of people here for the fall, which is nice,” Stein said. “Normally this time of year we really don’t have much foot traffic and I have been seeing people up early in the morning, lines at coffee shops, which is great. People are still shopping, which is awesome for the businesses.”
Sitting on a bench waiting for his wife to make another purchase, Tony Lusi, of Westchester, Pa., said he and his family always visit the city after Labor Day.
“My wife shops almost every day,” he said. “We are just shopping to keep her occupied when the kids are on the beach.”
He said there are six adults and two children at their rental home right now.
“There isn’t much I like about shopping downtown,” Lusi said. “I’m taking my wife out for the afternoon that’s all. She knows all of the stores, been in all of the stores, purchased stuff from the stores over the years.”
Brenda Lusi called herself “a pro at it.”
“I love to shop,” she said, adding that this time of year is particularly nice.
“No crowds, the weather is beautiful and everyone is so nice,” she said. I like to check everything out and get the good deals.”
Nia Smith of Pittsburgh was visiting Sept. 17 as a 5th birthday celebration for her daughter, Gabi, who brought her best friend, Jalayah Strickland, 7. Along for the ride was Levi, 7 months, wearing his Steelers shirt.
It was their first time ever in Ocean City.
“We like it so far,” she said.
The girls said they like the stores, the beach and the food.
“I like the toys,” Gabi said.