Dollars & Sense

Almost two decades ago, Diane Ternahan and her husband, Bob, opened the doors of Fish Tales in Bethany Beach, with the downtown apparel and gift store boasting trendy clothes and ocean-side fashion, along with gift ideas and toys. But limited space and growing potential restricted the shop from further expansion. Now, Fish Tales Home Decor is taking care of all of that, with a location on the adjacent side of Garfield Parkway, providing shoppers items for the home, and then some.

For locals and visitors alike, the summer months around the Delaware beaches often translate to relaxing in the sun, enjoying time with family and friends and, of course, great eats. But one new restaurant in Bethany Beach is offering a dining experience like no other, with a trendy, remodeled atmosphere, a bevy of welcoming employees and a menu that spans the planet. Tia Sexton, owner of 14 Global, has fused these elements into a lunch and dinner locale, serving up one-of-a-kind tapas from around the world.

The Hocker family has been offering up groceries to local shoppers for more than 50 years at their locations in Clarksville and Ocean View, along with a variety of prepared foods. But with expanded choices at both locations, patrons are finding even more ways these days to appease their appetites.

When Kathy Green and Cindy Davis first teamed up to bring Seaquels to the Delaware shore, they had no idea of the success that was in store for the region’s first furniture consignment shop. Now, three years later, Seaquels has become a favorite among homeowners, real estate agents and visitors in the area, and with a larger, nearby location, they’re proving why more and more people are turning to consignments when it comes to outfitting their home.

From an accidental spill on the carpet to water damage caused by a natural disaster, there truly is no job too big or too small for Gale Force Cleaning and Restoration. The full-service cleaning company, with roots that stretch back for three decades, prides itself as one of the most thorough cleaning businesses in the area.

When Sandy Flynn first opened The Pottery Place on Dorchester Street in Ocean City, Md., in 1972, she had no way to know that the business would take off in the manner that it did. An extensive – and loyal – customer base developed a great appreciation for the shop’s eclectic mix of home and garden accents and accessories over the years.

For the better part of the last decade, the Blue Crab in downtown Bethany Beach has been dishing up heaps of the tasty crustacean for customers who keep coming back, again and again. But as they enter their ninth summer, owner Tim Haley has big plans for the restaurant, in the form of another shelled favorite. After an offseason expansion added 2,000 square feet to the already 4,000-square-foot restaurant, Haley is now readying for the unveiling of Bethany Oyster House & Raw Bar, a fully-functioning oyster bar.

As the weather warms and a mild winter transitions into spring, more and more golfers will be hitting the links, and with the opening of Ruddo’s Golf in Fenwick Island, PGA professionals John Ruddo and Bret Marshall are looking forward to another busy and successful season.

The Irish are a proud people, as Pat Griffith, owner of Shamrock Shanty, will attest. Her Irish-themed shop, now in its third year at the Ocean Bay Plaza in Fenwick Island, remains open year-round, but it’s the time from late February through early March that yields the most sales. As March 17 barrels down upon us, Griffith reminds us that, “On St.

Michelle Gates and Kristy Anthony – two stay-at-home moms with backgrounds in management and retail – recently started Sprouting Up, a consignment sale management group.

As the saying goes, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” And Liz Hammond, long-time employee and manager of Sea Crest in Bethany Beach, knew a good thing when she saw it. The boutique and gift shop in downtown Bethany was up for sale briefly earlier this year, but Hammond was determined to keep things the way they were.

The Selbyville Planning & Zoning Commission voted this week to recommend that the Town Council approve a request for a farmers’ market to be held at the corner of Route 17 and Williams Street in Selbyville.

Berlin, Md., resident Jeannie Mariner had approached the council Jan. 9 for permission to host a weekly farmers’ market at the lot her family owns in Selbyville.

Mandatory mediation for foreclosures is now a reality in Delaware – at least for the next two years.

Delaware’s minimum wage rate could increase by $1 in the next two years, but it’s not likely to happen without a fight.

Decorating around the holidays has become a tradition, synonymous with the Christmas season, from lights and garland and stockings on the mantle to the iconic evergreen that seems to flood a room with holiday cheer. But for many, including Craig Thomas, it was the decor below the tree that resonated the spirit of Christmas.