April 2023 Newsletter
Ready, Set, Go!
April is always a busy time of the year on DelMarVa. Spring has sprung, the days are getting longer and warmer, and the landscape is shedding its winter coat of grey for spring green. Painted eggs and chocolate bunnies will be in abundance as Rehoboth Beach and the world celebrate Easter on April 9. Here at Rehoboth Beach Main Street, Rehoboth in Bloom is gearing up for another beautification season while RBMS is getting ready for both the Gumbo and Margarita Crawls and the ever-popular Oldies Dance. Excitement is in the air as Rehoboth Beach businesses are reopening and busily preparing for another beach season by restocking inventory, sprucing up their store fronts, refreshing menus, and planning for a myriad of special events to entertain the thousands of tourists who will join local residents in celebrating the summer of 2023. This month we are spotlighting a few spectacular inns; sources for massage, yoga, and other services; and a couple of restaurants—as well as a number of shopping destinations for your enjoyment.
The Avenue Inn & Spa at 33 Wilmington Avenue will make you feel at home in one of their air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwave ovens, as well as many other amenities such as free onsite parking, breakfast, and high-speed internet. While here be sure to treat yourself to their featured massages, body treatments, and facials.
If you like the feel of a small modern European hotel, then The Bellmoor Inn at 6 Christian Street may be more to your liking. Located within easy walking distance to the boardwalk and beach, it has been reborn with elegant rooms and suites with air conditioning, free breakfast, and high-speed internet to name a few. Many other luxurious amenities to make your stay enjoyable are also featured.
For a fun time for all, be sure to stop by The Purple Parrot Grill Beach Haus & Biergarten at 134 Rehoboth Avenue. A local favorite, open year-round, the Purple Parrot offers good vibes, a lively Key West atmosphere, delicious food, daily drink specials, and much more. Whether you go for lunch or dinner you will be in for a real treat. An extensive menu of appetizers, sandwiches, and daily drink specials are offered for you and your friends, guaranteeing a good time against a backdrop of colorful cartoon murals.
If shopping is on your agenda a visit to Penny Lane Mall at 42 Rehoboth Avenue is worth a walk-through. Nestled in a quaint European-inspired open-air alley between Rehoboth and Wilmington Avenues, Penny Lane Mall features a diverse selection of small shops with art, games, souvenirs, and food. It is a favorite stop for locals and vacationers alike.
Dos Locos Fajita & Stonegrill at 208 Rehoboth Avenue has brought award-winning Tex-Mex fare and stonegrill cooking to the Avenue for decades. Serving some of the best margaritas in town, along with stone-grilled lobster tails, scallops, lamb, shrimp, and steak, there is something here for the whole family to enjoy. You will find the atmosphere pleasantly festive, so pamper your taste buds with a visit to Dos Locos.
Just off the Boardwalk at 18 Rehoboth Avenue is The Coffeehouse Powered by Schell Brothers where you will find delicious hand-crafted coffee and vogue cuisine with a laid-back beach vibe. More than just coffee and great food, they strive to bring happiness to your day by making wholesome and delicious deserts. Using only clean plant-based ingredients filled with vitamins, minerals, protein fiber, and good fats that will make you feel good about yourself. Be sure and glance up at the ceiling as you are entering this establishment.
If you’d like to pamper yourself, the HeartWish Healing Center, at 301 Rehoboth Avenue, Suite G, offers holistic healing of the heart, mind, body, and soul through massage, energy work, and body work. The HeartWish skilled therapists are licensed, insured, and certified in a myriad of healing modalities—to help you feel better.
All of these businesses are members of Rehoboth Beach Main Street, and you can read more specifics about them later on in this newsletter. So, get ready, get set, and go into April and the beginning of the 2023 Rehoboth Beach Season!
Current and past issues of the newsletter are available on the RBMS Website at Newsletter | Home | Rehoboth Beach Main Street (downtownrb.com)
New Businesses & Membership Renewals
RBMS welcomes Avenue Inn & Spa as a new Green Partner!
RBMS thanks Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats and Chesapeake & Maine for renewing at the Blue Partner level!
RBMS thanks these businesses for renewing as RBMS members!
· Go Fish
For information about levels and benefits of RBMS membership, go to Join | Rehoboth Beach Main Street (downtownrb.com)
Showcasing Rehoboth Beach Businesses
Avenue Inn & Spa
Dan Slagle
At The Avenue Inn & Spa, 33 Wilmington Avenue, a comfortable, coastal vibe belies an uncompromising commitment to guest service and attention to detail. A variety of room types and suites accommodate beachgoing families, travelers, and those seeking an extended stay. All guests enjoy a multitude of complimentary amenities.
The Avenue Inn & Spa is an historic, family-owned and -operated hotel known for its top-notch amenities, exceptionally clean rooms, friendly service, and prime location—just a block from the beach and boardwalk.
From its start as a “tearoom” in 1937, The Avenue has flourished over four generations to become the go-to property in Rehoboth Beach for family vacations, romantic getaways, spa, outings, and events.
The Avenue Inn is an expert in coastal comfort. Thousands of guests have rated it the #1 TripAdvisor hotel in Rehoboth Beach—as well as one of the top-rated hotels in the US and the top 10% of hotels worldwide. Phone (302) 226-2900. Email: frontdesk@avenueinn.com. Website: https://avenueinn.com/ Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/AvenueInn/about
Purple Parrot Grill
Peter Beck
After almost two years of patient waiting, my brother finally stopped making excuses and drove down from Manhattan for a relaxing late winter weekend at the beach. We wanted to have Saturday night dinner somewhere with a chill vibe that reminds us of the time when we were young—in our twenties—and also a place where people of all ages, shapes, and sizes can feel comfortable and at ease. What better place could there be than the Purple Parrot, located at 137 Rehoboth Avenue!
I explained to Steve that the Parrot has been a mainstay of the Rehoboth scene since it opened in the late 90s. Steve immediately noticed the bright cheerful Key West decor and the charming front entrance, as well as the front veranda of the building which is one of the few remaining late nineteenth century masterpieces on Rehoboth Avenue.
We sauntered over to the bar and relaxed with a beer or two. The bar was not very crowded, so we were able to have pleasant conversations and catch up. My brother enjoyed the casual ambiance with all the exposed wooden beams and cheerful decorations; he stated that it did remind him of the kind of place we would have enjoyed in college. In addition, he found all of the dollar bills that hang on the walls and ceilings quite fascinating, and we spent some time trying to imagine how many thousands of dollars in bills are on display!
As the bar began to get more crowded, we went over to the dining area to enjoy our dinner. The crowd indeed contained people of all ages, from just barely drinking age to folks in their seventies. The waiter was quite friendly and provided us with an extensive menu of tasty, casual food. Steve, who is a fitness nut even when on vacation, ordered his typical healthy dinner: a hamburger with no bun and a salad. I am not so health conscious, so I enjoyed some truly scrumptious grilled chicken quesadillas, justifiably billed on the menu as “infamous” for how delicious they are.
Suddenly it was 9 o’clock, and the DJ set up his equipment for karaoke! Within minutes people in the crowd were dancing to the oldies, singing both on and off key, and having a fantastic time. While we decided not to partake, we enjoyed watching everyone relaxing and getting wild.
On the way out I showed Steve the Biergarten, which is a fantastic place to hang out when the weather gets warmer. Added in 2010, the Biergarten has been a big hit with locals and tourists alike during the summer months!
Be sure to stop in at the Purple Parrot at 137 Rehoboth Avenue for fun comfort food and a great time with friends and neighbors. Visit their website at http://www.ppgrill.com for more information about the Parrot.
Dos Locos
Jeff Balk