Rehoboth Toy & Kite named 2019 Business of the Year

Standing in front of her fellow chamber members after being recognized as the 2019 Business of the Year, Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. owner Rachel Webster said she had given up hope her business would ever win the honor. Even this year, she said, she thought chamber Executive Director Carol Everhart was calling for another reason when Everhart told her the news.

“I thought Carol was calling to see if we’d put the nativity scene in our doorway,” said Webster, referencing the hot topic of the holiday season.

Webster opened the Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. in 1993. A year later, Bee Linzey came aboard as Webster’s business partner. Almost three decades, millions of bubbles and just as many smiles later, Webster said she still loves standing on the sidewalk and spreading joy.

Webster said her love of the kite and toy business began in 1988, when she got a job working at the Kite Loft in Ocean City, Md., as a college student.

“I knew within 15 minutes this was something I wanted to do,” she said.

Webster and Linzey met in 1990 at the Kite Loft. Over beers, she said, they talked about how they could run a kite shop for themselves. A few years later, they were business partners in Rehoboth.

Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co. began on the Boardwalk and opened its second location on Rehoboth Avenue in 1997. Webster said the business hasn’t always gone exactly as planned – like a five-year stretch in Dewey – but it’s always been a joy.

Linzey kept his comments brief. He said he was appreciative, but he’d learned over the years that it was better to let his business partner get the last word.

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Awards Banquet and Installation of Chamber Board Members dinner Dec. 4 at the Lighthouse Cove Event Center in Dewey Beach.

Chamber board member and former Chairman Jay Becker began the ceremony outlining the annual State of the Chamber. Among the things accomplished, he said, were the publishing of 140,000 visitor guides and 50,000 coupon books, more than 75 ribbon cuttings, and fielding more than 200,000 informational questions.

All this was done on budget, and the chamber is financially sound for years to come, said Becker.

Former Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Stan Mills received two awards – the 2020 Mae Hall McCabe Award and an Individual Service Award.

Chamber board member Mike Meoli introduced Mills, describing the Mae Hall McCabe Award as the chamber’s most prestigious. As a commissioner, Meoli said, Mills was most proud of the infrastructure improvements he spearheaded, including Boardwalk reconstruction, city communication capabilities, beach access for the disabled and the creation of a five-year capital improvement plan.

Meoli said in addition to his work as a commissioner, Mills was a tireless volunteer for city events, especially Sea Witch. He then read Mills’ weekend-long involvement during the event.

“From 7:30 a.m., Saturday, to the last thing Sunday afternoon, Stan is a busy man,” said Meoli. “We all benefit when the city, businesses and homeowners work together.”

In an uncharacteristically brief acceptance speech, Mills said it was the passion of chamber event co-sponsors, partners and other members of the team that make all the work possible.

Former Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Toni Sharp was also given an Individual Service Award, but was not in attendance.

Dewey Beach Mayor TJ Redefer presented Audit Committee Chair Julie Johnson with the Volunteer of the Year Award and Dewey Beach Patrol Lt. Zack Stevenson with the Lifeguard of the Year Award.

Redefer said Johnson has done her not-always-easy work with a smile and superior intelligence, while Stevenson was given the award because of his excellence during the eight years he’s been keeping the beach safe.

The chamber presented Short’s Marine, a seven-decade-old Long Neck business on its fourth generation, with the Monumental Continuous Business Recognition Award.