Shore Marketplace expands to 44 vendors

Shore Marketplace owners Esther Ann Ingram and Marlene Ingram Lusk are taking full advantage of their large space just south of Five Points.

After opening in December with just over 30 vendors, the flea market-style shop has already reorganized its space to add more, now boasting 44 vendors offering everything from beachy decor, high-quality local photography and art to one-of-a-kind repurposed and refinished furniture, and handmade jewelry, clothing and household items. The shop even has homemade jellies and a florist.

Lusk says there is a waiting list to become a vendor at the market, and she chooses people who she believes will complement the other vendors.

“It’s not always about what I think might sell the best, but what’s a good fit,” she said.

The vendors who are successful are the ones who spend time at the market, she said.

“You would think they come in, put their stuff in and they’re done, but it’s a lot of work,” she said. “They need to freshen up their space, move things around, add their own touch, their own personality.”

Local artist Susan Macintire has had a space in the market since it opened. She recently expanded her area to cover two walls at the heart of the market, where she is able to display her original artwork. She finds inspiration in almost anything, from a cow she encountered while visiting Ireland to the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse to a simple wave crashing onto the beach.

New vendor Joe Scott, owner of Totes of the Town, has found the market to be a good substitute for shows that are no longer happening due to COVID-19. His open-door room is packed to the gills with homemade pillows, clutches and bags. His biggest sellers right now are his homemade masks.

“Since COVID started I’ve been working 19 hours a day,” said Scott, who works a full-time job outside of Totes of the Town. “I’ve been spending 11 hours a day on just masks.”

He estimates he’s made at least 1,500 masks since the pandemic started.

Jeniffer Donahue of Sea Juniper Trilogy has also entered the homemade arena, making unique, affordable and durable girls’ dresses. The dresses offered at the market go from size 1 to 6, but she can make larger sizes if requested. Many of the dresses are reversible, she said.

“I started this with my first granddaughter in 2014 and I just haven’t stopped,” she said. “I enjoy it so much. It’s a stress reliever and it helps me get out my creative energy.”

Donahue will soon be joined by her friend Maryann McFee, who offers custom children’s clothes, baby quilts and T-shirt quilts in addition to custom embroidery.

For people looking to take a piece of the Cape Region home, local photographer Stephanie Faust offers a variety of images in many different forms.

“I do this for the people who can’t enjoy what we see every day,” she said. 

Other vendors hope to offer unique pieces that customers can add to their homes. One of those artisans is Peter Holmbraker of Beach Works. He uses locally sourced wood to create one-of-a-kind furniture and crafts. Holmbraker also recently joined the market after it expanded.

“I’m just happy to be here,” he said.

The ladies of Front Porch Lewes are also happy to have a space in Shore Marketplace. Carey McDaniel and Marcy Saliba started the business about three years ago, offering small gifts someone could buy to show appreciation to clients or renters. It evolved to include home watch services. They eventually tried a pop-up shop before taking on a full-time space in the market. They are now joined by Cheryl Schiappa.

Theresa Sage is one of several vendors who sell furniture at the market. Sage considers herself a furniture flipper.

“I buy furniture, mostly at auctions, then bring it home to repair and refinish,” she said.

A lot of her farmhouse-style furniture ends up at the market, but she said she’s started to make a name for herself, and people are making requests for customized pieces.

Sharing the space with Shore Marketplace are The Furniture Gallery and the Scrub Apparel Outlet.

The Furniture Gallery offers a wide selection of finished and unfinished pieces for several rooms of a home. Lusk said they offer custom-finished pieces from manufacturers, but also a nice selection of paints and stains for the do-it-yourselfers.

Sage often works on furniture pieces at the market on weekends, using the materials available for sale. It gives customers an opportunity to ask questions about the paint or stain and get advice from someone who’s working on furniture almost every day.

Lusk’s sister Esther Ann Ingram manages the Scrub store, which offers medical scrubs of varying colors and designs.

“We try to help the hospitals, especially the new nurses just starting out,” she said. “We give discounts to nurses coming up through Beebe and Delaware Tech. We try to carry everything, and if we don’t have it, we try to get it.”

Some teachers will now be required to wear scrubs, she said, so the store will offer a discount to any teachers who purchase scrubs.

Shore Marketplace is open daily from 10 a.m. to  5 p.m. at 17689 Coastal Hwy., Lewes, on northbound Route 1 past Arby’s near Five Points. Cedar Tree Farms also offers produce outside the market on weekends.

Lusk is planning to host a monthly outdoor market through the holidays to give vendors an opportunity to offer more and provide people who are uncomfortable shopping indoors another option. The next market is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5.

Follow Shore Marketplace, The Furniture Gallery and Scrub Apparel Outlet on Facebook to learn more about each business and upcoming events.