Rehoboth Toy & Kite marks 25 years in business

As an 18-year-old biology major at the University of Pittsburgh, Rachel Webster never imagined a summer job at the Kite Loft in Ocean City, Md., would inspire a complete career change. 

“I was just going to work there part-time and wait tables, but I fell in love with it and retail. Within a week I knew I wanted to own my own business, so I changed my major,” she said.

Not only did Webster stumble upon her dream job, she also met future business partner Bee Linzey at the Kite Loft. Together they worked summers at the shop, putting knowledge gained in their college courses into practical experience while they created their own business plan. In 1993, they opened Rehoboth Sport & Kite on the Rehoboth Boardwalk. 

“It’s a great partnership. We started it when we were very young, had no money and were never romantically involved, so that’s why it worked,” she joked. “We were able to be there all the time and basically grew up in this business together.”

Webster and Linzey used the power of play to attract customers to the new store.

“I learned in college to give customers a completely different experience than in any other store. We’d go fly kites on the beach and give kite lessons. We played games with customers in the store and gave them a fun experience so they’d come back, and did whatever we needed to do to make things right for them,” Webster said. “We treat our employees very well, too. We train them how to engage with customers to find out their needs.”

With the success of the seasonal Boardwalk location established, Webster and Linzey opened a year-round shop at 67 Rehoboth Ave. in 1997. When the rent drastically increased in 2014, they moved the business across the street to First Street Station, into a newly renovated space offering 2,100 square feet to display their colorful collection of kites, flags and windsocks; toys and games; umbrellas and boogie boards; garden decorations and home accents.

“We learned to be sustainable, we had to offer good-quality, unique items,” she said. 

Webster and Linzey also make it a point to give back to their community by supporting local chamber, school and community events. They’re currently gearing up for a busy holiday weekend: the 50th annual Greater Delaware Kite Festival Friday, March 30, at Cape Henlopen State Park, and Rehoboth Toy & Kite’s 24th annual Fun Fly with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, March 31, at its Virginia Avenue and Boardwalk location, where guests can enjoy a free continental breakfast at 10 a.m., pictures with the Easter Bunny, games and kite making, and an egg hunt at 12 p.m. 

Rehoboth Toy & Kite is located at 70 Rehoboth Ave. and 1 Virginia Ave. For more information, call 302-227-6996 or visit rehobothkite.com.