Tag: Food & Agriculture

Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk Fodor's Best Boardwalk list

Rehoboth Makes Fodor’s Best Boardwalk List

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Working in Delaware.

The 12 Best Boardwalks in America

We’ll Be Falling in Love!

Strolling along a boardwalk while diving into an ice cream cone or testing each other’s bravery on a classic pier-side thrill ride is practically a right of passage for having a proper summer. These 12 destinations host some of the best boardwalks across both coasts of the U.S.—and sometimes even in-between. From cult classic spots like Atlantic City, New Jersey, to newer, celebrity spotting outposts like Venice, California, and beyond, here are 12 of the best boardwalks built for summer across America.

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Atlantic City Boardwalk

WHERE: Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City’s boardwalk is internationally famous. It is said to be the world’s first and longest boardwalk dating way back to 1870. The structure’s original intent was to protect the nearby hotels from unruly ocean waves, but over time, as the boardwalk grew to its current length of 5.5 miles, it became an international entertainment hub. Explore the high-end hotels and casinos like the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, or take a swing at Atlantic City Miniature Golf. Walk the adjacent piers, which offer visitors several additional attractions and shopping spots. Check out the Central Pier Arcade and Speedway for extensive choices of arcade games. At “Steel Pier,” take a ride on the carousel or the observation wheel overlooking the city. Nearby, “Garden Pier” is the arts and cultural center of the boardwalk, featuring the Atlantic City Historical Museum and Atlantic City Art Center. 

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Long Beach Boardwalk

WHERE: Long Island, New York

New York is famous for its classic boardwalks, including the famed Coney Island and Playland Beach (known as the place in the movie Big, where Tom Hanks’s younger self wishes to be a grown-up before realizing adulthood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be). But the Long Beach Boardwalk on Long Island made a bigger and better come back after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which is a must-visit. This 2.1-mile boardwalk dates back to 1914, and today is a great spot to grab an ice cream and set out for a stroll next to the clean sandy beach. The walkway is teeming with quirky boutiques and unique eateries to explore. Head to Skudin’ Surf School & Shop for surf lessons, board rentals, and other cool gear, or snap a picture in front of the highly Instagrammable Long Beach Osprey Wings. 

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Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach Boardwalk

WHERE: Santa Monica & Los Angeles, California

The Venice Beach Boardwalk is internationally renowned for its quirky street performers, talented artisans and vendors, buff “Muscle Beach” athletes, and the plethora of tasty food and drink choices along this 2-mile stretch of sand. Start the journey at the end of the Santa Monica Pier, where Pacific Park offers amusement park rides and funnel cake choices. Traveling south along the boardwalk, bikers, joggers, roller bladers, and walkers can enjoy unending sights of the California coastline flanked by a palm-tree-lined walkway. Scope out popular stops like The Waterfront, which sits directly on the boardwalk and serves tasty eats and curated cocktails in a spirited setting, or enjoy a more “elevated” atmosphere at High Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Erwin, which overlooks the boardwalk for the ultimate sunset view.

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Floating Boardwalk of Coeur d’Alene

WHERE: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Who says boardwalks have to be on land? In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, visitors can explore the World’s Longest Floating Boardwalk, which is 3,300 feet in length, 12-feet wide, and 10-feet deep, with a 60-foot-long bridge. Visitors can hang out on the marina and enjoy the opportunity to rent out paddleboards, pontoons, or speed boats. At the Boardwalk Bar, adults can buy a beverage that can be enjoyed anywhere across the walkway. At Marina Cantina, try a signature cocktail and dive into some light bites while enjoying live music every Friday and Saturday evening. And it’s not just a “summertime boardwalk.” Each year at Christmas, this stretch of wood is brilliantly illuminated as part of the Holiday Light Show, featuring America’s tallest floating Christmas tree as well as 1.5 million lights and 100-plus displays live on the boardwalk.

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The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade

WHERE: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk received the official trademark of “America’s Boardwalk.” This 1.2-mile-long stretch of promenade in the heart of the Grand Strand leads visitors through the sand from 14th Avenue to the 2nd Avenue Piers in Myrtle Beach. It’s home to a number of festivals and events throughout the summer and is a favorite destination for visitors of any age. Walk along the pathway and enjoy oceanfront views of the sea. Ride the iconic Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, and stop at various shops and restaurants along the path, such as Riptydz Oceanfront Grill, Rooftop Bar, and Landshark Bar and Grill. This boardwalk is getting a $3.7 million facelift at the moment; the traditional wood surface is being replaced with new decking from Plyler Park to Eighth Avenue North, with work scheduled to be completed later this summer.

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Carolina Beach Boardwalk

WHERE: Carolina Beach, North Carolina

The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is a vintage icon dating back to 1887. Visitors can enjoy tasty food, shopping, and even seasonal attractions on this pathway that feels like a nostalgic blast into beach days past. Those with a sweet tooth can Britt’s Donut Shop to dive into a handmade donut—this legendary, cash-only shop dates back to 1939 and still serves their original, family-made recipe. Those who’d prefer something heartier can stop by the Carolina Smokehouse for some of the best barbecues in the region. Hurricane Alley’s perch on the Boardwalk offers ocean views, beachy beverages, and local craft brews with classic seafood selections and light snacks. Stop into the Carolina Beach Arcade just a block from the ocean for a break from the southern sun and ride the brand new 95-foot Ferris Wheel that just opened in Spring 2022.

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Ocean City Boardwalk

WHERE: Ocean City, Maryland

The classic Ocean City Boardwalk spans three miles offering amusements, games, and rides. Plus, visitors can encounter live music and street performers on any given day. Enjoy the scenic sights from the top of the Ferris wheel, or squeal with excitement on the roller coaster. Slow down and hop back in time on the carousel, which dates back to 1902, and was installed in 1912—it’s the country’s oldest continuously operating carousel with two tiers of elaborately carved and painted animals. Explore the diverse foodie scene offering everything from iconic Maryland crab cakes to fresh-baked pizza. Grab some cotton candy, homemade fudge, saltwater taffy, or a hot funnel cake, or cool down at one of the ice cream parlors on the boardwalk.

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Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk

WHERE: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Rehoboth Beach’s one-mile beach boardwalk offers visitors the chance to dive into classic summer fun with beach snacks, games, shopping, and major attractions such as “Funland,” an amusement area and arcade that’s been operating for over 60 years. There are nearly two dozen rides at Funland, ranging from low-key classics like the carousel to more thrilling adventures like the “Superflip360” or “Freefall.” After working up an appetite at Funland, listen to the sounds of the free summertime bandstand concerts, dive into a “Big Daddy Funnel Cake” at Starkey’s Funnel Cake Factory, and curb any seafood cravings at Obie’s By the Sea. The boardwalk is open to bicycles from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. from mid-May through mid-September. But be warned that roller blades and skateboards are prohibited from mid-May through mid-September.   

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Virginia Beach Boardwalk

WHERE: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Dating way back to 1888, Virginia Beach’s famous 3-mile boardwalk is a perfect spot for visitors of all ages to enjoy some summertime fun. The path is 28-foot wide and has a separate bike path for two-wheel thrill-seekers. Check out live entertainment at one of four oceanfront stages on 7th, 17th, and 24th and 31st streets. Art enthusiasts can admire the range of nautical sculptures decorating many side streets leading to Atlantic Avenue. Be sure to stop at King Neptune—this 24-foot, 12-ton bronze statue stands at the gateway to Neptune Festival Park on 31st Street (and is a great photo opp). There are dozens of places to grab a bite, like popular local restaurants, Waterman’s—and history buffs should check out The Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum for a unique and historic educational opportunity.

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Mission Beach Boardwalk

WHERE: San Diego, California

Spanning 3.5 miles from North Pacific Beach to South Mission Beach, San Diego’s iconic Mission Beach Boardwalk has it all. Guests can step into one of the dozens of local shops, restaurants, or parks along the walkway—and the boardwalk is also popular amongst bikers as it offers equipment for rent. Stop at Belmont Park, which is free to enter since visitors pay only for the attractions they’d like to try. Thrill-seekers can embark on the historic, restored wooden roller coaster or enjoy some friendly competition with a game of laser tag. There’s also a tilt-a-whirl and a carousel, among other exciting rides. Grab a bite to eat and settle in for some people (or surfer) watching with a classic cream cone at Beach Treats, or a quintessentially SoCal Dole Soft Serve. The Mission Beach Boardwalk is what seaside summer dreams are made of.

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Navy Pier

WHERE: Chicago, Illinois

Completed in 1916, Chicago’s Navy Pier feels like the ultimate boardwalk experience. Head to Pier Park for a ride on one of Navy Pier’s most iconic attractions: the magnificent Centennial Wheel, which soars to nearly 200 feet and offers unrivaled, 360-degree views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. There’s also a carousel, a wave swinger, mini-golf, and a drop tower for thrill-seekers. Check out the Navy Pier Beer Garden for free and live outdoor music performances and local craft brews from Tangled Roots Brewery. And there’s of course, a seemingly never-ending array of Chicago classic food options on the Pier, like Giordano’s (legendary Chicago deep dish pizza) and Garrett Popcorn Shops (the Original Chicago-Style Popcorn). Look out for Fireworks lighting up the night from Wednesday through Saturday nights, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

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Kemah Boardwalk

WHERE: Galveston Bay, Texas

In Texas, travelers can explore the Kemah Boardwalk overlooking Galveston Bay, which features a variety of themed restaurants, retail shops, and amusements for visitors of any age. Dine at boardwalk classics like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Landry’s Seafood House, or Aquarium Restaurant, which serves guests a great view of the 50,000-gallon aquarium full of diverse marine life. This boardwalk also offers plenty of carnival festivities, including a 36-foot carousel, a 65-foot Ferris wheel, and exciting rides like the Boardwalk Bullet. Relax and listen to some live music at Kemah Boardwalk’s Summer concert series called “Rock the Dock” every Thursday night at 7 p.m., beginning on June 19th.

This article by Molly O’Brien was originally posted on Fodor’s Travel website at: https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/americas-12-greatest-boardwalks

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Nassau Valley Vineyards Delaware

Nassau Valley Vineyards of Lewes is Delaware’s Pioneer Winery

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Working in Delaware.

In terms of age, Delaware’s wine industry is a baby. And that baby’s mother is Nassau Valley Vineyards co-owner Peggy Raley. 

 Raley and her father Bob almost single-handedly started the Delaware winemaking tradition about 30 years ago, when they planted their vineyard in Lewes and championed legislation to enable commercial winemaking. 

 Delaware had long been a state where it was illegal to operate a small-scale alcohol-producing facility – likely a holdover from more puritanical times. Raley, a Delaware-native, originally left home to globetrot and pursue a career in the wine industry. She ended up working for Les Amis du Vin International and The Friends of Wine magazine for several years. Eventually, citing the Delaware “sand in her shoes” that she never got out, she returned home to the beaches in the 1980s and vowed to bring winemaking with her. The Delaware vintner and her father planted their first grapes in 1987, helped change the laws in 1991 and opened the doors of Nassau Valley Vineyards in 1993. 

“I drafted the legislation that the General Assembly ended up passing – it essentially created what is known as farm wineries in the state,” she said. “The legislation actually ended up opening the door for the entire craft beverage industry here. The manufacturing and reselling clause that was passed through was done in a way that didn’t break down the three-tier system (of Delaware’s alcohol distribution policy). So other craft brewers began popping up after that.”

Raley notes the old legislation truly had been the only barrier for Delaware winemaking. The state’s growing conditions, she said, are excellent.

“Our conditions are very conducive to growing grapes,” she said. “Our soil, especially in the southern part of the state, is sandy, which grapevines love. Our proximity to the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean also makes for a nice temperate growing climate.”

Nassau Valley Vineyards has thrived since its opening. The operation quickly increased its menu of 14 different wines and has achieved an extensive collection of awards to drape around their bottlenecks. 

“We’re at over 600 medals from various international competitions,” Raley said. “We’ve earned the respect of the wider wine world itself. I still have people say all the time, ‘It can’t be as good as the wine from the typical regions, because it’s from Delaware.’ But it is.”  

Ramping up production over the years, Raley said her facility now produces between 3,800 and 5,000 cases per year depending on growing conditions. Many of the grape varieties are grown on their farm, but some are trucked in from other parts of Delmarva. 

“We grow cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petit Verdot and chardonnay – so we’re concentrating on the traditional European varieties,” she said. “We contract for a few hybrids from other growers on the Eastern shores of Virginia and Maryland. We get some things shipped in from the Finger Lakes as well, but all the wine is actually made here.” 

More Than Wine

Like most craft beverage facilities, Nassau Valley Vineyards quickly became a destination. In addition to selling its high-quality wine, the vineyard offers tours, serves as an event venue and holds a regularly scheduled farmer’s market.

“We weren’t even open a full calendar year before a couple came in and asked if they could get married here,” said Raley. “I was like, ‘You want to do what?’ But we kept getting requests. We started holding ceremonies outside in tents and even in the wine cellar. Things got crowded quickly, though, so we first built a 3,600-square-foot space and later an additional 8,400-square-foot event center, and it’s been an important part of our businesses ever since the beginning. We’re one of the few places at the beach that can accommodate over 300 people in an interior building.”

 The farmer’s market came more recently.

“About five years ago, we started hosting them every Sunday during the growing season,” said Raley. “All kinds of local growers, artisans and crafters show up for it, and it’s a great time. We have a sangria bar, live music, winery tours and art shows. For a lot of local folks – and visitors – it’s their Sunday hang. COVID-19 threw things for a bit of a loop, but we slowly started to reintroduce everything while observing restrictions.”

As for the future, Raley, who now runs the vineyards with her sister and business partner Suzette Hopkins, says she plans to grow and refine the young Delaware vintners’ tradition.

“Tastes have changed in recent years, and a lot more people want to be aware of exactly where what they’re eating and drinking comes from,” she said. “When I first opened, I scarcely saw anyone under 30 come through the door, but the demographics have shifted. People are very excited about trying out and enjoying local wineries and breweries.”

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Maurice Catlett innovative chef Delaware

Innovative Chef Maurice Catlett Thrives In Delaware

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Delaware Ambassadors, Working in Delaware.

If you have a passion and you follow it, great things will come your way. For Maurice Catlett, a chef at SoDel Concepts, he may not have realized what exactly would make his life so great, but now living and working in Delaware, he is glad he can say his passion has led him to happiness. Catlett’s love of cooking stems from when he was younger—his father was African American and his mother was Korean, so meals were always an interesting blend of cultures. “Food always brought us together,” says Catlett. Because he loved watching his mother cook, Catlett always knew being a chef was what he wanted, so he worked his way up from being a dishwasher to eventually working on the line at SoDel.

SoDel Concepts is a Rehoboth-based restaurant that owes its success to passionate and innovative chefs. Since his start at SoDel, Catlett has watched them grow from a mere five restaurants to a total of twelve across the state of Delaware. The restaurant has become more than just a place to eat: it’s somewhere to enjoy good food cooked by chefs who really care. In addition, the nonprofit organization SoDel Cares was started to assist the community by providing grants, with the goal of helping children, at-risk adolescents and adults, and the elderly.

A Passion for Cooking

“My name’s Maurice Catlett. I’m a corporate chef with SoDel Concepts. You know, growing up my passion’s always been cooking. Started off at the bottom, dish-, you know, dish-washer slash prep, jumped into that and loved it, you know, and grew rapidly, pretty fast with this company.

When I started we had, what, one, two, three, I think we had five restaurants at the time. You know, now we’re at 12 restaurants. It’s amazing. Food is everything, you know? We didn’t have a lot growing up. Food always brought us together.

I have a background of soul food and Asian food. My father was African American, my mother was Korean. Thanksgiving would be turkey, we’d have ribs, collard greens, and then we’d have kimchi. But those were the times, like, I would always remember, like, the best times of, you know, growing up, and family barbecues. And my mother’s a great cook.

I learned a lot just from watching her, and that’s where I got a lot of my passion from. I love the beach area. That’s why I’m here. I’m raising my children here. I love being by the water. I love the people here, the community. I moved down here one summer and never left.”

An Exceptional Place to Live

Not only does chef Maurice Catlett feel passionate about where he works and the food he makes, but he also extends this love to the state of Delaware itself. After moving to Delaware one summer, Catlett knew this is where he wanted to stay, as he loves the beach, and he proudly raises his family in this community he has come to love and admire.

As SoDel restaurants appear across the state, it goes to show that Delaware houses top-rated places to eat. There is something for everyone, as enjoyment can be found in the state’s food or other attractions. Delaware is full of people like Catlett who care about what they do, and they all contribute to making Delaware an exceptional place to live and visit.

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Delaware culinary apprenticeship program

Delaware Pilots National Culinary Apprenticeship Program

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Working in Delaware.

If you’re like one in three Americans, your first job was in the restaurant industry, which is the nation’s second-largest private-sector employer, according to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

There are 13 million people employed in restaurants and food service operations, and an ongoing need for more skilled labor in the field – particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. To boost the ranks, the NRAEF launched the Restaurant Youth Registered Apprenticeship (RYRA) Program in 2020. Delaware is one of just four states to pilot the culinary apprenticeship program.

“We want to attract people into this industry and empower them with related training and on-the-job learning,” says Raelynn Grogan, senior director of the Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, which manages the state’s program. “Then we want to advance them.”


Delaware was selected for the pilot partly due to the Delaware Restaurant Association’s experience. “We had a lot of previous grassroots efforts in the apprenticeship realm about two years ago, so we helped create benchmarks for the NRAEF,” Grogan explains.

Delaware’s size is another reason. “I think the size of our state makes us a little petri dish, if you will,” Grogan adds. “Our size helps with accessibility, promotion, convening and coordination.”

Thanks to the U.S. Department of Labor and the Delaware Department of Labor, a separate fund supports NRAEF’s Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship (HSRA) program. This program targets new and current restaurant and food service workers who want to advance their careers.

“Think of it as two separate pots of funds available for those older than 24 (HRSA) and those between the ages of 17 and 24 (RYRA),” Grogan explains.

Both programs have tracks for restaurant managers and line cooks. Participants receive the following:

  • On-the-job paid training in a restaurant setting for front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house
  • Job-related education in a classroom or online
  • Access to nationally recognized credentials from the restaurant industry and the U.S. Department of Labor

The restaurant management track also includes basic leadership training and financial management and marketing skills. Line cook participants also learn basic culinary skills, food safety and sanitation knowledge, along with inventory and supply management fundamentals.

The apprenticeships launched with SoDel Concepts, a Sussex County, Delaware, hospitality group. The first apprentice enrollees graduated in Fall 2021 with a Line Cook Apprenticeship Journeyperson Certificate.

Enrollment is ongoing. The RYRA Program more recently has enrolled line cook apprentices with the hospitality companies Platinum Dining Group and Big Fish Restaurant Group. Other participating employers include Ashby Hospitality Group, Harrington Raceway & Casino, Harry’s Hospitality Group and Two Stones Pub locations.

“This program is the beginning of what will likely be a lifelong career for most people involved,” says Michael Stiglitz, founder of Two Stones. “Every position within our industry is a career path. The lifelong skills acquired, the friendships made and the journey through a rewarding career all begin with this first chosen step of joining the program.”

Xavier Teixido of Harry’s Hospitality Group agrees. “One of the keys to the program is that it ties youth interested in hospitality careers to employers offering skills training and mentoring,” he says. “It’s a win-win for all participants.”

Apprentices in RYRA’s restaurant management track must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED at the time of entry. Line cook apprentices must be 17.

Many apprentices are affiliated with NRAEF’s ProStart Program in Delaware, a two-year high school curriculum. “Either they’re graduates, or they’re currently in a program,” says Grogan, the local coordinator, noting participants from Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School and Cape Henlopen High School.

The state apprenticeship program also reaches out to the Wilmington Job Corps Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, The Teen Warehouse in Wilmington, Children’s Beach House in Lewes, and the Food Bank of Delaware’s culinary training program.

“We are excited to deepen our partnership with the Delaware Restaurant Association and provide information about and referrals to the RYRA program to eligible students,” says Anna McDermott, the Food Bank’s strategic initiatives director. “The restaurant apprenticeship program offers the opportunity to continue to learn and grow while earning a wage.”

The grant funds are available until 2024. To become an employer or an apprentice, call the Delaware Restaurant Association at 302-738-2545.

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young professionals choose Delaware

Young Professionals Choose Delaware

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Delaware Ambassadors, Working in Delaware.

Not many people are lucky enough to say that where they live has all the ideal factors, but when it comes to the citizens of Delaware, they can proudly boast about a place that is perfect for all aspects of life. Delaware has been experiencing an influx of young professionals who choose to live somewhere they know will provide them with job opportunities along with a welcoming community.

Over the years, while the size of the state has remained the same, the business and residential communities have grown. Residents of Delaware feel connected to each other, and this allows them to make meaningful connections. As interviewee Jason James points out, more people seek out diversity when it comes to their work and home lives. The younger workforce wants to become involved with people unlike themselves—they want to engage with others so that they can learn and become more in tune with their communities.

Because of these reasons, young professionals choose Delaware as it is a state whose diversity is growing each and every year. The range of diversity allows people to pursue a variety of interests, showing that Delaware is truly a place where anyone can come and thrive.

Kyle Gay: Delaware is a place to live, work, and play, for millennials and for people of all ages.

Kyle Barkins: Really easy to meet people here. I think it’s very easy to establish strong relationships. And it’s easy to get things done.

Charles Vincent: If you can’t get ahold of the person, you have somebody who can, and you’re able to just get things done faster. Instead of talking out stuff, we’re able to do stuff.

Nicole Magnusson: I love the community in Delaware. It’s small enough to know your neighbors, but also big enough to explore and learn new things, and find new places to eat, and shop, and have fun.

Jason James: This generation that’s coming up is really interested in living and working in diverse spaces. Research studies support that over and over again, when millennials are asked, what attracts them to being in a certain place, it is diversity. It’s multiple people, multiple people with different backgrounds, and multiple things to get involved in. So this is really an opportune area for millennials to really move into and work in.

Daniel Walker: We’re flexible as a small state, so we’re able to find what interests a person, and really capitalize on that. And I think that’s what makes the networking so great.

Kyle Gay: We chose Wilmington because we knew that this was a great opportunity for us; both in our careers and finance, and in law, and for the family that we wanted to have, and we finally do have now. It’s a great place to raise children. A great opportunity for people and families to be ingrained into the community.

Jennifer Saienni: And you don’t have to wait years to see the difference of what your work is doing. You are able to come to Wilmington, come to Delaware, and make an impact!

Young Professionals Living the Good Life in Delaware

Young professionals like these agree that Delaware is an ideal location for work and life. You can find great fulfillment and success in your career through the ever-growing job market. More businesses are discovering that Delaware is a great state to locate in, and this allows for job opportunities of all kinds.

And work isn’t the only positive Delaware has to boast. From restaurants to shops to parks to beaches, Delaware has everything that makes a home state worthwhile. Residents of the state take advantage of its many amenities while also making meaningful connections with their fellow neighbors. The community of Delaware, in both the business and residential life sense, provides endless support for all those looking to make the First State their home.

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sussex county business owners karen and tony sposato

Sussex County Cheers On Karen and Tony Sposato

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Delaware Ambassadors, Working in Delaware.

Karen and Tony Sposato wanted to take their business to the next level. They started with Sposato Landscaping in 1992, which has served as an award-winning company for Sussex County over the last 30 years. With a dedication to their customers, Sposato Landscaping serves any type of outdoor need. Even with this great success, Karen and Tony sat down in 2021 and wondered what more they could do. Coming from an Italian family with a legacy of wine-making, Tony suggested starting their own vineyard, and so Sposato Family Vineyards was born. The company works from 66 hectares down in Argentina, producing a variety of wines, including a malbec, which is made with the signature grape of Argentina. The prices range so that anybody can find a wine they enjoy.

Karen: “Sposato Landscape has definitely grown in the last 30 years. We’ve been in business for 28 years, and, from there, we sort of spring-boarded, looking for something outside the box besides landscaping.”

Tony: “Grew up Italian, grew up around wine. Just one thing led to another, and we’re like, “Well, you know, what about vineyards.” So, we put out focus down on Argentina. And that was in 2012. And today we have 66 hectares in production.”

Karen: “We have both white and red. We have the classic malbec, which is the signature grape of Argentina. We have sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and a fresh blend. So, great wines to choose from at every price point for everybody’s taste and liking. Milton is, just, it’s really changed in the last 30 years that I’ve been here. I think the community here has really embraced us. We all want the best for each other.”

Tony: “It’s helped our business. It’s helping our wine. And I think people that are moving here in Sussex County, they do appreciate fine wines. They appreciate the outstanding restaurants we have here. And chefs also appreciate good wines, too.”

Karen: “I think that’s the other thing that’s great about this area is that people really support each other. They want people to come down and enjoy this area and realize and recognize what a special place it is. I think that’s what’s great about the area. We’re all cheering each other on.”

Finding Success and Support in Sussex County

Sposato Landscaping is located in Milton, Delaware since its inception. Tony and Karen thank the community for their continued success over the past 30 years, and they also credit the community with helping their wines flourish. Tony thanks the restaurants—their patrons and the chefs—for having a strong appreciation for good wine.

They have these other businesses to support their endeavors. Not only do they attribute success to residents both old and new enjoying fine wines, but Karen also says, “We all want the best for each other.” Sussex County, where Milton is situated, is an area where individuals and businesses support one another.

Not only do they want to see success for their own companies, but they know how great of a place Delaware is and all the different things it has to offer: from restaurants to beaches to wine to community. Because of this sense of pride and joy in the area, the community of Sussex—and really all of Delaware state—champions growing businesses so that growth can happen. The support comes full circle, with restaurants helping Sposato Vineyards get their name out while also being able to provide customers with a wine they can trust. Every county in Delaware is filled with organizations looking to uplift one another and create success for themselves and the community at large.

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Sposato Family Vineyards' Karen and Tony Sposato

Sposato Family Vineyards

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Delaware Ambassadors.

Sposato Family Vineyards

Sposato Family Vineyards loves Delaware

From the Andes Mountains to Delaware’s Culinary Coast

Sposato Family Vineyards Brings International Cheer to Sussex County and Beyond

Business partners Karen and Tony Sposato could teach a business class on diversifying. For one, they are former educators. For another, the Milton, Delaware, residents don’t allow boundaries – or even a pandemic – to limit their aspirations.

Since 1992, the Sposato name has been linked to Sposato Landscape Co. But in restaurants and wine stores, it’s better associated with Sposato Family Vineyards, which Tony and Karen built from the ground up. “We created it,” she says.

It’s a good story, and one that Karen, who spearheads company marketing, tells well at wine dinners, in-store tastings and on social media. And although their vineyard is located in Argentina, the business is a distinctly Delaware endeavor buoyed by small-town support and linked to the coastal quality of life.

It all started with the lawn-mowing company that Tony began after graduating from Salisbury State University. He needed to make extra cash while looking for a full-time job. But the physical education and health teacher soon found his calling outside the gym.

His Milton-based business snowballed so fast that he left teaching and expanded services to include irrigation, landscape and design. By 2008, the entrepreneur was restless.

“He’d always talked about owning a piece of property or a farm,” Karen recalls. “We could start a nursery and build greenhouses.”

Or, he said, “We could grow grapes.”

It was not a stretch. An Italian American, Tony had grown up with wine on the dinner table. And from a professional point of view, he was well-versed in agriculture.

Given the Sposatos’ landscaping background, they knew that soil and climate influence grapes. They began looking for the perfect property. In 2012, they narrowed their choice to Mendoza Argentina, where 250 acres – and water rights – were still available. The land was “virgin ground,” so they installed a new irrigation system, electric and other improvements.

The property, managed by their Argentine employees, rests in the arid foothills of the Andes Mountains, about 3,000 feet above sea level. “We can almost grow any grape successfully,” Tony says.

Current varietals include malbec, bonarda, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, pinot noir, rosé, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and the Fresh Blend (chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and torrontés). Their wines fall into three categories: Classic, Reserve, Grand Reserve and Sabia Savia, an icon wine, which is the highest tier.

Finding a Footing in Delaware

Making wine is one thing. Selling it is another. When the wine was ready for release, the Sposatos initially promoted it at the beach.

“People know our name here because of the landscaping company – and we have 5,000 clients,” Karen notes. “They’ve seen the name, the trucks, and they know we do incredible work. We know soil. People understand the story of why we started a winery and how we did it.”

The original business offers another advantage: Sposato Landscaping is a regular attendee at industry conferences and tradeshows that offer networking opportunities.

The beach area was an excellent starting point due to its reputation. There are so many acclaimed restaurants in the resorts that the Delaware beaches are known as the “Culinary Coast.” Since so many are relocating here, the dining scene is year-round.

The owners spent hours at wine dinners. If Karen wasn’t doing tastings along the Delaware beaches, she was in her hometown in Harford County, Maryland, which is heavily populated with her family members.

Growing a Business

Sposato Family Vineyards experienced steady growth from 2015 to 2020, Tony says, and the winery has become a tourist attraction as well as a direct sales site. In the United States, the wines are available in Delaware, Maryland, D.C., Florida and upstate New York, where the company has contacts with distributors. The wines also are available in Argentina and Peru and soon will be in Brazil and Columbia.

Karen returned from Argentina last year shortly before businesses shut down to stop the spread of COVID-19. “Thank goodness we had the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia, which is the harvest celebration,” she says.

Back home, organizers canceled wine dinners. But that didn’t stop Karen’s marketing efforts. The avid runner and former elementary school teacher radiates optimism and a can-do attitude that attracts prospective customers. Behind the broad smile is a steely determination to succeed. So she increased her social media presence, urging consumers to support local restaurants.

“We all needed to come together,” she explains. “We needed to continue to talk about food and wine and how it can keep your spirits high.”

With wine and cocktails available for carryout, she patronized restaurants that carry Sposato and posed for photos. She also become adept at using Zoom for virtual events and organized outdoor wine tastings.

No matter where or when she is marketing Sposato wines, Karen relishes uniting Delaware and Argentina.

“I think it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate two cultures,” she says. “Mendoza and Milton are both tourist destinations.”

When the Sposatos brought their Argentine team to participate in the 2019 Taste of Sposato 5K Run, which benefits Delaware Technical Community College, the visitors also participated in special wine events. One of these introduced Sposato’s rosé, and all of them allowed Karen to show off her hometown.

“You can’t beat the life here – a beautiful state park, amazing wildlife, the sunsets,” she says. “It’s a place where you want to raise your kids. It’s a centrally located, glorious place with a wealth of treasures.”

One of which, of course, is wine by Sposato Family Vineyards.

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CEO Rob Rider Sussex County Delaware

Rob Rider Leads O.A. Newton to Record Growth

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Delaware Ambassadors, Working in Delaware.

For a business that has constantly reinvented itself over its 104 years in business, O.A. Newton & Son CEO Rob Rider doesn’t even pause when asked about his company’s elevator speech.

“We’re in two businesses – irrigation and farm and ranch products for a local customer base (Delmarva) and engineered material-handling systems on a national and international level,” says the fourth-generation leader (his grandfather Warren Newton was the “& Sons”).

Where many other Delaware businesses have struggled to survive during the pandemic, Rider says his company has been challenged to keep up as its building-product clients experience record sales and look to expand. For Rider, COVID 19 has been a business accelerant that has helped him grow revenues and move from 30 employees to nearly 40.

“Because we’re involved in both manufacturing and agriculture, we have been considered essential from the start, so we never laid anyone off,” he says. “At the beginning, we were getting ready to start a pretty large [composite decking] project and [the client] wouldn’t let us on site for a month. But that turned out to be a blessing because we were a bit behind schedule, and it allowed us to catch up and get the project back on schedule.”

Big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s saw a jump in business as homebound Delawareans decided to start or move forward with projects. As a result, demand for PVC pipe and fencing, vinyl siding, and wood composite decking stayed very strong.

At the same time, O.A. Newton continued to expand a longtime relationship with Miller Metal Fabrication, which leases space from Rider’s company.

“We decided 14 years ago that we didn’t need our employees doing the sheet metal fabrication for our products,” Rider says. “Miller Metal has developed a lot of advanced manufacturing to make our products better at a lower cost.”

For example, a few years ago, O.A. Newton identified a bottleneck in its production process involving a “spray and bake” painting process called powder coating that Miller Metal has been able to resolve. But Rider says client demand for the service has led them to offer the service to others from Harrington as an additional business.

“It’s not innovative and it’s not a new product,” Rider says. “You need to pay attention to what customers are asking for and then meeting the demand. It might only involve six or eight customers but there’s huge volume and we’ll be able to meet the demand together. You have to be ready to adapt.”

That discussion swung around to a question about O.A. Newton’s legacy after more than a century in Sussex County. The company got its start developing a feed for chickens that led to greater egg production, which led to feed-milling and chicken-breeding businesses. Beyond that, there is a dizzying list of businesses that Rob’s father Bob and then Rob himself started in response to customer needs and opportunities that they saw.

The commitment to innovation and being nimble led O.A. Newton to begin building conveyor belts to move the feed they milled in the 1950s. That led to the creation of conveying systems for companies that make plastic pipe and siding and decking and then to offering replacement parts and service when the recession slowed new construction. The company sold the poultry business was sold in 1969, and a parts counter became the O.A. Newton Farm and Ranch Store, essentially a specialty hardware store that recognized the changing demographics in Sussex and Kent counties from fewer large farms to more farmettes and hobby farms.

“As you can imagine, with our market being building products, the recession decimated our customers,” Rider says. “We had to really retrench and rebuild our business. When the housing bubble burst, it forced out a lot of inefficient manufacturing and we’ve seen steady growth since.”

The desire to stay nimble has led O.A. Newton to form partnerships with companies that have what they need, need what they have, or offer the scale to help them sell their products.

Rob Rider Remains an Unbashed Delaware Supporter

Since the start of the pandemic, O.A. Newton & Sons’ record growth includes going from 30 to nearly 40. Through it all, Rider has remained an unabashed Delaware supporter.

“Delaware has always been an easy place to do business,” he says. “Labor is easy to deal with and it’s easy to get answers. I can’t say that it’s always wonderful from a regulatory standpoint – that’s one of the things we need to work on — but it’s better than most. We’d never consider moving because of the experience we’ve had here.”

O.A. Newton recently shut down branch locations that served retail customers in New Jersey and New York for about 10 years because the “headache of doing business in those states wasn’t worth it. They weren’t terrible experiences, but in both cases, we just decided it wasn’t the right fit for us.”

Rider says he talks to people all the time who are considering renting space in his buildings or buying real estate to build themselves.

“I tell them we have a great workforce and the process to get located here from beginning to end is as easy and convenient as you’re going to get,” he says, adding that he completely supports the efforts of Bob Perkins and the Delaware Business Roundtable’s Ready in Six initiative to accelerate the permitting process.

Before ending the interview, Rider elaborated on his answer about the company’s legacy.

“I would hope that people are saying we’re keeping up with the times and exceeding their expectations, maintaining our relevance in today’s world,” says Rider. “Legacy to me really means reputation and one of the things that is more important than anything is being fair to our customers, our employees, and our community – pretty much in that order.”

“If we are not equally caring for all three of those stakeholders, then we’re not going to continue to exist. When we make decisions, we think about the impact tomorrow and 10 years from now.”

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Wilmington Brew Works

Written by Live Love Delaware on . Posted in Delaware Ambassadors.

Wilmington Brew Works

Wilmington Brew Works enters Third Year with Glasses Raised

Earlier this year, as they were approaching just their second anniversary, CEO Craig Wensell, CFO Keith Hughes and VP of Marketing John Fusco of Wilmington Brew Works holed up in their expansive Miller Road location to discuss the state’s then-recently announced phased re-opening. Their navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic since then has been both successful and a testament to the partners’ collaboration and the strategic partnerships they have created along the way.

“We were almost dead in the water there for a little bit,” Hughes recalls. “There was a national shortage of crowlers and growlers, and there was nowhere to put the beer we were making. It seemed like every day there for a while, something would happen that had us trying to figure out how to keep the lights on.”

Throughout the pandemic, local breweries, along with the Delaware Brewers’ Guild, have worked to keep breweries up to date with changing restrictions. They also have come together to help each other out when supplies have run short.

“We put out a call because we were very low on crowlers,” Wensell says. “And, lo and behold, Drew [Rutherford] from Stitch House reached out right away and helped us out.”

Pivoting quickly also helped.

“On the weekend of March 13, I was on the computer all weekend building a website to allow us to take online orders for pickup,” Fusco says. “We were able to launch that the day the government shut us down. At the end of that week, we could not believe how much business we had done.”

The three actually have been together for a long time, working as very early collaborating partners on Bellefonte Brewing Company. Fusco did the logo and design work for that, Hughes put the business plan together, and Wensell brewed the beer.

“Building a good team is very hard,” Hughes says. “[It is often important] to understand when not to get involved in something. We are all very Type A here, which is usually a tough situation to have, that many opinions. You have to respect the person and their role, which I think we do a good job with here.”

The combination of this niche community, great beer, a convenient location and a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere makes Wilmington Brew Works unique to the region.

Hughes and Fusco originally connected with Wensell as homebrewers.

“[Ed Mulvihill] at Peco’s Liquor told me there was someone I should meet who was creating great beer,” Hughes remembers. “I was involved early on with some of the financial parts of Bellefonte, and when this came around I was excited to be a part of it.”

The trio, Fusco says, developed their own design ethos for how they wanted to do everything. For example, he says, the naming convention for their brews.

“[That] came from the very first beer that we ever put out called Superfluous Nomenclature, Fusco says. “We wanted something

difficult to read, with long words that could introduce people to new vocabulary. We have a big list of weird words that we collect and try to match with each other.”

“Our most recent beer, Sartorial Absence, came from a podcast I was listening to about the history of clothing. The word ‘sartorial’ kept coming up and making me laugh. We then had Dave Sanchez [from Spaceboy Clothing] design our label for that, which was a lot of fun.”

Sartorial Absence also brought a bit of notoriety to Wilmington Brew Works with a Facebook post that was posed to look like Wensell was brewing beer without clothing. That, Wensell reassures, was “all staged.”

Wilmington Brew Works’ first collaboration had occurred when Wensell was approached by Herb Inden, Wilmington’s director of Planning and Development, with a conveniently located spot just off Interstate 95. The location had been empty for close to 20 years, Wensell says, and the city did an “incredible” job preparing it for the new brewery.

The building itself was created by Francis Irénée du Pont after he left the DuPont Company in 1917. The long, winding Spanish Mission style was unique for this region. Blueprints from some of du Pont’s many patents, which include the first steam-powered car, a liquid vending machine and a steam power plant, all hang inside the brewery.

Another of Wilmington Brew Works’ many collaborations, the on-site addition of La Pizzeria Metro, has arguably been the most valuable. Metro is one of the hottest restaurants in the city, and the Wilmington Brew Works trash cans typically are piled high with pizza boxes at the end of each night.

“I spent four months in Naples,” Fusco says, “and Metro and Pizzeria Vetri in Philly are the only things close.”

Wensell calls this collaboration “perfect from the start” as the Wilmington Brew Works team never sought to be a brewpub or enter the actual restaurant business.

Wilmington Brew Works attributes a lot of its pre-pandemic success to the multipurpose Alamo Room, which is physically connected to La Pizzeria Metro. The Alamo has hosted parties, concerts, plays, games and even yoga.

“We’ve had so many people tell us, ‘We’d never been here before. This place is wonderful. We’re coming back,’” Hughes says. “Or we’d get calls on Monday from people who were at parties wanting to schedule their own.”

Wensell notes that among the range of activities taking place in the Alamo Room, one in particular has been a specialty. Spoken word, he says, is a niche they have been able to fill.

“We’ve had comedy and Delaware Shakespeare,” he says. “The [Delaware Poet Laureates], the Twin Poets, played back there and were fantastic. And these things have consistently drawn a great response to the point that things sell out, and people call and harass me on the phone. They want to speak with the manager.”

The combination of this niche community, great beer, a convenient location and a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere makes Wilmington Brew Works unique to the region. Wensell notes that one of their most surprising demographics has been parents of young children and mothers with babies who are looking for somewhere they can be comfortable.

“We have these long tables because we want to encourage people to come, hang out and meet strangers,” he says. “So many people have met friends here for the first time.”

The hyper-focused local approach has been a win for Wilmington Brew Works, creating a microcosm of a small town in its offerings.

“It’s allowed us to really focus on what we do – it’s like we are not really competing with other breweries so much as ourselves,” Wensell says. “Ultimately, the COVID shutdown was a fantastic opportunity for us.”

“Our team looked at it as the excuse we needed to take the steps we were going to have to make anyway.”

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