Ah, the month of May…the weather continues to warm, the school year is winding down, summer vacation beckons, and Memorial Day weekend officially opens the summer season at the beach.  If your summer includes a trip to Ocean City or Assateague Island, be sure to schedule a stop at the Assateague Market, our merchant of the month!

Located on Stephen Decatur Highway/Route 611 in Berlin, Maryland, not too far from eastbound Route 50, Assateague Market is a one-stop-shop for everything that you need for the beach or a seaside camping vacation. In addition to groceries, the market carries camping and fishing supplies (including bait and tackle), beer, wine, ice, toiletries, and household supplies.  You can also find firewood for your campsite, kites, everything you need for the beach, RV and boating supplies (limited stock available), and souvenirs.  There’s even a deli where you can get fresh food made to order such as super-stuffed subs, personal-sized pizzas, coffee, fountain sodas, and hand-dipped ice cream. Assateague Market is also a gas station – fill your car or camper’s gas tank or exchange your propane tank while you’re there.

Jerry, the owner of Assateague Market, purchased the store seven years ago after having owned and operated stores on the Ocean City boardwalk. His fiancée Lisa manages the market, and they have both called Ocean City home for 27 years. Lisa likes to stock as many “made in the USA” items as she can, and she tries to support the community by featuring locally-made items in the store. While a lot of their customers are campers and vacationers who pass through, they also serve many regular locals and day trippers, too.  Many customers return year after year, and Lisa and Jerry welcome them back.  “My fear is that Mom and Pop-type stores are becoming extinct. Our customers support us, Mom and Pop, they are amazing! We have the most wonderful customers! ” Lisa says.  Customer service is #1 at Assateague Market!

Assateague Market is open from April 15 to October 31.  During the peak summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hours are 7 AM to 10 PM, sometimes to 11 PM to service campers’ needs. During the spring and fall the hours are a bit shorter.  If you stop in during the month of May, be sure to mention this article to receive 20% off any souvenir or deli order!

Assateague Market, Route 611/Stephen Decatur Highway, Berlin, MD   410-641-3380

In a struggling economy, sometimes the small local businesses suffer the most. While it might seem like you can get a better deal on some purchases by ordering online from larger companies, it will help you and your community in the long run if you choose to shop with local merchants.  Here are some reasons to buy local:

• Shopping locally helps keep money in the local economy—money spent in locally-owned businesses has up to three times the impact on the community as money spent at corporate chains.
• Shopping locally keeps non-chain shops flourishing, which increases the diversity of the community.
• Local businesses offer a more refined expertise and base of knowledge about their product than large chain stores.
• Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impact of those decisions.
• Independent area businesses pay more local and state taxes than do mega-corporations, keeping the tax flow community-based.
• Supporting local businesses by shopping locally helps fund and maintain jobs in the area, preventing outsourcing and the outflow of economic wealth.
• Local stores are a place to socialize!
• Local businesses compete with one another for business, which gives shoppers many options.
• A healthy local shopping district brings in more local businesses, which grows the local economy.
• Local business owners are more invested in their communities than large chain stores.
• Thriving local shops reduce fuel requirements and eliminate the monopoly and high pricing of supermarkets.

*Source: blogcatalog.com