Meet Your Merchant- St. Michaels Crab and Steak House

St. Michaels Crab & Steak House

Location:
305 Mulberry Street St. Michaels, MD 21663

Website: www.stmichaelscrabhouse.com

Facebook:
St. Michaels Crab and Steak House

Phone number: 410-745-3737

Hours of operation:
Thursday-Tuesday (Closed Wed.)
11am- 10pm

Who are the owners?

Eric Rosen

How and why you started your business?  

The desire to own my own restaurant began when I became a chef in the Army. From there I went on to restaurant school in Philadelphia, PA where I am born and raised. After graduation, I relocated to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and began my career as a chef and general manager of a few establishments. When the opportunity came available to own my own restaurant I took a crazy chance and 22 years later I can proudly say my dream came true.

What do you sell/make/do? 

We're a crab & steak restaurant. The St. Michaels Crab and Steak House provides a full menu including entrees, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, raw and steam bar, desserts, etc. We have a full bar with many great drinks including our House Infused Bloody Mary.

Within the restaurant there are 4 dining areas that can seat approximately 300 people. Two of the dining areas are outside and two are inside. Additionally, we have an inside and outside bar, a favorite of locals.

Over the many years as owner, I have held rehearsal dinners, crab feasts, birthday parties, etc.

The restaurant is seasonal, so we generally open in April and close after the weekend of Christmas in St. Michaels, normally the second weekend in December.

Where is your business located and why did you choose your location?

St. Michaels, Maryland in what a few of us like to call the Heart of the Harbor. We sit directly in the St. Michaels Marina, overlooking the water and the boats coming and going.

What strategy do you use to draw people to your establishment?

Social media has done wonders for business. We have a great website and Facebook page that are updated almost daily with pictures of fun with customers and friends and photos of our good food and specialty drinks! Many businesses and hotels in town have copies of our menu. I can not forget our wonderful regulars!  They put the word out around town and other areas about us.  

What is your strategy for growth in the next year?

Continue to provide great meals and experiences to all customers that walk through our doors. Additionally, keep up with social media and changing times in the area of marketing online.

What is the best thing about running a business here?

All the great people I have come in contact with, and friends that I have made. It’s a great feeling to know that I have satisfied so many people from many different areas across the United States and other countries.

Meet Your Merchant - Calico Toys and Games

Name Of Business:  Calico Toys & Games
Location:  212 S. Talbot St
Website:  calicotoysandgames.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/calicotoysandgames
Phone number:410-745-6229
Hours of operation:

10:00am-5:30pm Sunday – Thursday

10:00am-6:00pm Friday & Saturday

Who are the owners?

Brad & Pamela Fout

How and why you started your business?
We purchased Calico Gallery in 2001 after Brad retired from Lucent Technologies. At that time, Calico was a large gallery of framed Chesapeake oriented art downstairs and a great toy store upstairs. It was also the highest quality Custom Framing shop in Talbot County. It was also our favorite business to visit when we were tourists.

So, we didn't actually start Calico Gallery, we just wanted to improve on one of the oldest retail traditions in St. Michaels.   After doubling sales after the first six years, we were hit by the recession. The “Framed Art” part of the business took a huge dive – folks stopped buying expensive pieces off the wall. So, instead of shutting down, we re-engineered the business to primarily all toys and children’s books.

Fun and Educational toys, books and games, too!

Though we do not advertise Custom Framing, we have kept almost all of our high level customers and actually added many through referrals.

The Framing Shop

What do you sell/make/do?
Calico Toys and Games offers fun, educational and retro toys, games and puzzles for Infant to 99!
We specialize in children's books, framed art and Celebrate St. Michaels posters from the St Michaels Art League. Brad makes all of the custom framed art.

The Fun Place in St. Michaels!

Where is your business located and why did you choose your location?
We're located at 212 S. Talbot Street, a brightly painted two story building, colored in fun primary colors, blue, red and yellow, in the center of the shopping district.  Look for our many toy displays out front!

What strategy do you use to draw people to your establishment?

We're always using local advertising, discount coupons and programs, throughout the year.  We also consider offering the best selection and customer experience possible for repeat customers and to help with word of mouth advertising. 

What is your strategy for growth in the next year?

Keep providing the largest selection of the best Toys, Games, Puzzles and children’s books under one roof on the Eastern Shore. Push shopping local via coupon mailers, and local discounts.

Games Galore!

What is the best thing about running a business here?

It is a beautiful place where people love to visit, so for the most part your customers are happy and excited to be here. It is especially nice when your business becomes a part of the customer’s tradition.

Calico Toys and Games...educational fun, like this puppet show.

Meet Your Merchant - Justine's Ice Cream Parlour

Name Of Business: Justine’s Ice Cream Parlour

Location:  106 N. Talbot St. St. Michaels, MD

Website:  www.justinesicecreams.com

Facebook:
Justines Ice Cream Parlour

Phone number: 410-745-0404

Hours of operation:

Monday – Thursday 12:00 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Friday – Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Who are the owners?  

Kathy Lash & Joe Trippi 

Tyler Heim, Manager 

How and why you started your business? 

Justine's Ice Cream Parlour has been scooping ice cream and selling shakes for over 25 years in St. Michaels.  In 2012, we purchased the ice cream parlour because my family always loved visiting Justine's in the summer.  We all enjoyed the selections on Tom Quimby’s Famous Wall of Shakes and we wanted to bring that original energy, style, and those recipes back to the parlor.  Quite frankly, we thought it would be fun – and it has been! 

  

What do you sell/make/do? 

We work hard to give our guests a total ice cream experience.  We have been serving premium Jack and Jill Ice Cream since the store opened.  Last year we added to our selection of flavors making our own "homemade" ice creams.  We serve our guests the highest quality products and a variety of frozen dessert treats.  We still make our root beer floats, banana splits, ice cream sodas and New York egg creams the old fashioned way but have added new innovative sundaes to the menu to appeal to every taste.  We love ice cream! 

  

Where is your business located and why did you choose your location? 

Justine’s is located at 106 North Talbot Street in St Michaels. 

  

What strategy do you use to draw people to your establishment?

Justine's has been a mainstay business in St Michaels for over 25 years and is known by locals and returning visitors as a fun spot for a delicious frozen treat.  We believe that ice cream should be as much about memories as it is about new discoveries.  We have created unique flavors for our homemade ice cream --flavors that are inspired by ingredients that are available to us locally and reflect the season.  We want every visit to Justine’s to be an experience – something that our guests will remember and join us again. 

What is your strategy for growth in the next year? 

In previous years, our business plan was based on a business to customer strategy.  This year, we want to expand to a business to business strategy and sell our homemade ice cream flavors outside of Justine’s.  We hope that you will soon find our Cocoa Dream, Raspberry Oreo, Rum Raisin and Café Mocha flavors at your favorite local restaurants. 

  

What is the best thing about running a business here? 

It has to be the people – our guests and friends who have been so loyal to us year after year.  Without them, we would not have the opportunity to grow our business.  We feel very blessed to have such loyal friends and promise to keep working hard to serve the highest quality ice cream desserts with friendly prompt service.

Meet Your Merchant- Black Walnut Point Inn - Tilghman Island

Name Of Business: 

Black Walnut Point Inn

Location: 

4417 Black Walnut Point Rd, Tilghman Island

Website: blackwalnutpointinn.com

Facebook: blackwalnut.pointinn

Phone number: 410-886-2452

Hours of operation: 

9am-5pm, Everyday

Who are the owners?
Bob and Tracy

How and why you started your business? We were led to the Inn eight years ago.  It’s a long story, but in a nutshell, Tracy was shown the Inn and point in a vision when he was three, painted it when he was twelve, and Bob and Tracy first came to the Inn eight years ago and knew God wanted them at the Inn.  We took over the Inn five years ago.  Since then new guests, weddings and people who have needed to be at the Inn have utilized their Sanctuary Discount, and then business has grown every year.

What do you sell/make/do?  Bed and Breakfast, Weddings, Respite.  

We are open year-round, so everything is heated and air conditioned. The waterfront cabins feature private screened-in porches, full kitchens, gas fireplaces and king-sized beds overlooking the Choptank River.  The main house is a 1840's farm house, and features four unique choices to stay, and includes the common eating and relaxing areas, including a breathtaking view on the screened porch. 

Where is your business located and why did you choose your location?  Please see above.  We have also expanded with fund raisers for the local community. We also advertise with Gift Certificates for specific Silent Auctions in the Baltimore and DC community.

What strategy do you use to draw people to your establishment? We tell our story and advertise the ‘secret place of peace’.  Our location and marketing describes a place to get away from the norm, with nature, seasonal interest, gardens - both flower, vegetable and fruit and peace that surrounds us.  Sunrise and sunsets on both sides of our lawn lure guests to the Inn.

What is your strategy for growth in the next year? Our weddings and ability to host guests and events year-round have increased our season.  Internet marketing through hotel sites have proven very beneficial.

What is the best thing about running a business here?   We are doing what we are supposed to be doing.

Meet Your Merchant - Sail Selina II

 

Name Of Business: Sail Selina II

Location: 101 N Harbor Road, St Michaels

Website: www.sailselina.com

Facebook: SailSelinaII

Phone number: 410-726-9400

Hours of operation: 10am-9:30pm

Who are the owners?                  Capt. Iris Clarke

How and why you started your business?  I inherited my grandfathers yacht the Selina II in 2001 and did a major restoration on her before I started offering sailing charters in 2003. 

What do you sell/make/do? We offer sailboat rides, sunset champagne cruises, private charters (especially popular with young couples getting engaged), romantic table for two dinner cruises, beer & wine tasting tours, ♥elopements and small intimate weddings♥, sailing lessons, anything to do with being on the water on a sailboat.  We love to set sail!

Where is your business located and why did you choose your location? I chose to run Selina II in St Michaels because it is the community closest to where I live on the shore that has enough tourism to support a charter boat business.  Subsequently I have moved to the area, I love it here

What strategy do you use to draw people to your establishment? Trip Advisor reviewers have been very kind and other folks read the rave reviews and sign up. Many folks find us on the web, and lots of the B&B owners refer guests to us.  We also get a lot of repeat business, its nice to see everyone come back.

What is your strategy for growth in the next year? I just try to keep up with what everyone says you should do, have an online presence with google, facebook & other social media, and create package deals offering an overall enhanced St Michaels experience.  This year the Knot's concierge service has picked us up as their elopement offering, we are very excited.

What is the best thing about running a business here? Everyone is so friendly.  St Michaels has a disproportionately large percentage of warm hearted, smart, great people many of whom I call friends. I am so lucky to call this port home.