The merchants of the Washington Street Mall along with the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) are excited to announce that the Washington Street Mall has been designated a 2021 “Great Place in New Jersey''. Through a highly competitive nomination process, the Washington Street Mall stood out as representing the gold standard of exemplary character, quality, and planning in New Jersey. The Great Places in New Jersey Awards Jury looked at each nominee’s true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and vision for tomorrow when selecting designees. Through the hard work of the Washington Street Mall merchants and the City of Cape May, the Mall emerged as a leader among all aspects of the designation criteria. Representatives of the Washington Street Mall Business Improvement District submitted pictures and an explanatory narrative outlining how the Mall was truly one of New Jersey’s great places. Specifically, the Mall was designated as a “Great Street”, characterized by how it relates to adjacent development, encourages social activity, and has a memorable character. APA New Jersey noted the Mall’s balance of the competing needs of a common street, such as its numerous bike racks and the free Jitney shuttle service that helps to ease parking. The Mall’s buildings with gingerbread-like architecture, numerous seating areas, luscious gardens, shady trees, historical markers, gas lamps, bistro-style string lights, and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities all also helped to secure the designation. The merchants of the Washington Street Mall are proud to add this award to Cape May’s ever-growing list of accolades and are eager to continue to help the heart of Cape May grow and prosper. 2021 was an exciting year for the Mall, with the launch of a brand-new comprehensive website, the beginning of the Mall’s 50th anniversary, new business openings, and the debut of the new highly-popular bistro-style string lights. The merchants are eager to continue this momentum in 2022 as they continue to welcome you to enjoy unique shopping, dining, and more in the picturesque heart of America’s original seaside resort!

In part because of our charming Christmas lights and our new highly-popular bistro-style string lights, Cape May, America's original seaside resort, has been voted one of the Best Public Holiday Light Displays in America in USA Today’s 10Best 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. “Cape May is a wonderful sight during the holiday season”, James Ridgway, President of The Chamber of Commerce Greater Cape May noted. “Our visitors tell us that we resemble a Dickens Village with the lights on our Victorian homes and businesses complemented with the gas lamps on our streets". Light Up Cape May is a community effort the Chamber and Cape May MAC started in 2015 when the town needed more holiday lights. With community partners and the support of several sponsors including Atlantic City Electric, the Chamber initiated a contest for homes and businesses. Three of our merchants took the top three spots in the contest's "Best Window" category. Congratulations to Cape May Fish Market which took 1st place, Bath Time which took 2nd place, and Victorious which took 3rd place. Thank you to all of our merchants who work so hard to make the heart of Cape May shine during the holiday season. Cape May does Christmas right, and the Washington Street Mall is at the center of it all. Santa shops here, because we have our 60 unique boutiques and shops with something for everyone. Whether you are a local or in town to visit, when you shop small, you are investing in our community. Plus, enjoying our bars, restaurants, and activities is the perfect way to celebrate the spirit of the season. Can't make it to Cape May before the new year? No worries, the charm of the heart of Cape May continues through the winter when a long weekend can chase those winter blues away!

The merchants of the Washington Street Mall are happy to announce that they are sponsoring two South Jersey high school marching bands in the annual West Cape May Community Christmas Parade, which takes place Saturday evening, December 4th. The Washington Street Mall Business Improvement District, comprising over 75 merchants in the heart of Cape May, has donated $2,000 so the Wildwood High School and West Deptford High School marching bands can participate in the parade. The bands are set to dazzle spectators with talented renditions of classic holiday music. Each band will be led by a banner announcing the sponsorship. The West Cape May Community Christmas Parade, Cape May’s biggest event of the winter, steps off at 5pm at the West Cape May Fire Hall. The parade can be expected to arrive in the Mall area sometime after 5pm, with a route that takes it on Perry Street and down Carpenters Lane. To enhance the festivities, we've invited Santa Claus to hang out on the Mall before the parade, and he joyfully accepted the invite. He will be strolling the Mall starting at 1pm, accompanied by local musician Andy Dimacale. We invite you to come early for fabulous Christmas shopping, delicious food and drink, a visit with Santa, and local live music, all among picturesque holiday décor.

The merchants of the Washington Street Mall invite you kick off the holiday season and celebrate their 50th anniversary at the Lights and Love Holiday Kickoff on Black Friday, November 26th. Decorating of the Mall will be complete, and Cape May's small town Christmas charm will be alive and well as the heart of Cape May is officially illuminated for the holidays! In the spirit of the season, the event will support the Cape May Community Food Closet, which is in dire need to donations to serve 4,000 adults and 1,000 children this year in the greater Cape May area. Donation boxes for nonperishable food items will be located on the 300, 400, and 500 blocks of Washington Street from 9am through 5pm. In addition, beginning Black Friday and lasting through Christmas Eve, the following businesses on the Mall will accept monetary donations for the food closet: Across the Way, Bath Time, Beachlove Cape May, Good Scents, Great White Shark, Import Bazaar, Madame's Port, Quirk & Co., Red Oak Trading, South of Jackson, Splash, and Whale's Tale. 100% of the contributions will go to the food closet. The event will also continue the Washington Street Mall's 50th anniversary celebration, as we will be officially unveiling our new decorative string lights! Because of the generous contributions of several Mall merchants and local citizens, we were able install "bistro" lights across sections of the Mall, which serve to enhance both aesthetics as well as lighting levels. New banners highlighting our 50th anniversary have also been installed on outer areas of the Mall. Santa Claus will be strolling the Mall from 4pm to 5pm, posing for pictures and handing out candy canes donated by the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May. Additionally, local musicians Gordon Vincent, The Honeyhawks, and Bernadette & Amy have donated their time and talents and will be performing on the Mall. At 4:45pm at the Rotary Clock on the 300 block of Washington Street, Mayor Zack Mullock, Councilwoman Lorraine Baldwin, and others will provide words of welcome marking our 50th anniversary and officially kicking off the holiday season! Be sure to come early and stay late to take advantage of some of the great Black Friday deals from our Mall merchants and to indulge in our fabulous restaurants.

Fall on the Mall...it is truly a beautiful time of year in the heart of Cape May. Leaves change color and fall as our mild ocean breezes rustle them down our brick walkways. The presence of more clouds late in the days creates amazing colors to the sky, especially around sunset. Adding to this natural beauty, the Washington Street Mall Management Company, Inc., uses funds received from the special assessment on properties within the Washington Street Mall Business Improvement District to add a significant amount of décor and fall plantings all throughout the Mall. With all of this, autumn really is a special time of year in Cape May. Don't believe us? Well, we've created a fall photo tour that will surely change your mind: We'll see you on the Mall this fall!

With the record-breaking summer of 2021 now in the rearview mirror, we finally have some time to showcase our brand new website. This past spring, we totally rebuilt our website from the ground up. A new website was sorely needed, as our old website was severely outdated, not easy to navigate, and not representative of our brand of being the heart of America's original seaside resort. The project took about a month and a half and was complete by Mother's Day Weekend. The final product resulted in a comprehensive website that outlined all facets of the Mall and that showcased the fact that we are the heart of Cape May. In this blog post, we will showcase each page and how you can use the website to plan your visit and discover what you did not know about the Mall. Homepage - washingtonstreetmall.com Our homepage is the first page everyone sees when they visit washingtonstreetmall.com. It features a slider feature front and center at the top that showcases current promotions, upcoming events, or other news that we want to feature. The rest of the homepage functions as a general introduction to the Mall and everything it has to offer, with enlarged blocks linking to popular pages. Towards the bottom are our latest Instagram posts, which allow visitors to easily see what is happening on the Mall. The homepage is meant to welcome everyone to the Washington Street Mall and attract people to actually visit the Mall. About Page - washingtonstreetmall.com/about The About page goes a little more in depth in detailing what the Washington Street Mall is, including its physical boundaries. There is also a brief history of the Mall, and an introduction to the Washington Street Mall Business Improvement District (BID). This includes the BID's meeting minutes and contact information. Shopping Directory - washingtonstreetmall.com/shopping The Shopping directory page outlines all options for shopping on the Mall. Because of the large amount of shopping options, it is also divided into three subpages: Fashion & Accessories, Home Goods, and Specialty. Those looking for a store in a certain category can choose one of these subpages to narrow down their search and more easily find what may interest them. Food & Drink Directory - washingtonstreetmall.com/foodanddrink The Food & Drink directory page outlines all options for food and drink on the Mall. Activities & Services Directory - washingtonstreetmall.com/activitiesandservices The Activities & Services directory page outlines all of the different activities and services offered on the Mall. On this and the other directory pages above, each business has a link to its own page with pictures and maybe some video along with their location, website, phone number, and a brief description. Businesses may also choose to have their hours added to the page, but many prefer that you contact them for their hours as they are subject to change due to weather, crowds, and staffing. Events Page - washingtonstreetmall.com/events The Events page outlines any upcoming events that are scheduled to take place on or around the Washington Street Mall. This includes our famous sidewalk sales, summer concerts in Rotary Park, the Halloween Parade, and the Christmas Parade. Linked from this page, each event has its own page with pictures and maybe some video along with the date, time, location, and a brief description of the event. Map & FAQ Page - washingtonstreetmall.com/mapandfaq Our Map & FAQ page features everything you need to know to enjoy the Mall. The Mall's map is located front and center and can easily be enlarged. Below the map are several frequently asked questions, such as parking information and restroom locations. This page is a must visit for first time visitors of the Mall, allowing them to plan a hassle-free visit. Blog - washingtonstreetmall.com/blog If you are reading this, you found our blog! Officially known as "The Mall Messenger", it is the official blog of the heart of Cape May. You will find business spotlights, news, feature articles, and posts that go more in depth about upcoming events. New blog posts are published generally every three weeks. Live Webcams Page - washingtonstreetmall.com/livewebcams Stuck at home and missing the Mall? You can plan your next visit while checking crowd conditions and the scenery by viewing two live webcams from Henry's Landmark Jewelers. Providing views of the 400 block, the webcams are linked from this page and are provided by attheshore.com. The release of our new website was timed well, as it went live during our 50th anniversary year. A new, modern website is a great way to celebrate a birthday! The website also debuted our new consistent branding, including colors and fonts that are being used on our social media accounts and will also be used in new signage and banners. Our website is completely mobile friendly and can be viewed from any device, including phones and tablets. This allows you to be able to use it as guide via your mobile device while actually on the Mall. The top of all pages includes links to all main pages as well as a search bar. The search bar comes in particularly handy in instances such as when you may be looking for information on a particular business. You can search that business and easily navigate to its page. The bottom of all pages includes links to our social media accounts. It is also important to note that the website is updated constantly. Business changes, new features, and more are always being added to the website, allowing visitors to Cape May to always be in the know. Whether you are planning your Cape May vacation or you are a local and looking to do some shopping, our website is one of the best tools in Cape May. We hope you enjoy it. We'll see you on the Mall!

The City of Cape May is presenting 43 free concerts this summer in Rotary Park, just off the 400 block of the Washington Street Mall! This means you have even more excuses to visit the Mall and enjoy our unique shopping, dining, and more. Just like the Mall has something for everyone, so does this year's Music in the Park lineup. From some of Cape May's hottest local musicians such as The Bastard Sons of Captain Mey and Maddie Hogan to patriotic music from the 63rd Army Band and America's Sweethearts, the lineup is sure to keep you entertained. Music in Rotary Park is a Cape May tradition that has been happening for nearly five decades. Children and adults alike will often dance to the beat as the sun goes down and the music plays. Be sure to bring your own beach chair or blanket as benches in the Park are limited. The music begins at 7pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday July 2nd through September 5th. Additional concerts are held on June 30th and September 10th, 11th, and 12th. Come early and/or stay late and explore the Mall's boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, candy stores, and ice cream shops. Cancellations due to weather will be announced at facebook.com/capemaycity. The lineup is as follows: Wednesday June 30: Rowan College of South Jersey - Cumberland Campus Bands Friday, July 2: 63rd Army Band Saturday, July 3: Jack Melton Swing Band Sunday, July 4: America's Sweethearts Monday, July 5: John Clark Band Friday, July 9: The Honeyhawks Saturday, July 10: Gordon Vincent Sunday, July 11: The Cape May Diamonds Monday, July 12: Celtic Music with Charlie Zahm and Friends Friday, July 16: The Squares Saturday, July 17: Herb Moore Trio Sunday, July 18: Maura McKinney Mastro Monday, July 19: Dan Barry Quartet Friday, July 23: Geno White Trio Saturday, July 24: The Cape Shore Jazz Orchestra Sunday, July 25: The Quietmen Irish Tenors Monday, July 26: Maddie Hogan Friday, July 30: The Capers Saturday, July 31: The Barrington Band Sunday, August 1: Maura McKinney Mastro Monday, August 2: Suite Inspiration Friday, August 6: The Al Harrison Dixieland Band Saturday, August 7: The Fabulous Silver Wings Sunday, August 8: Heard Immunity Monday, August 9: Dan Barry & Friends Friday, August 13: John Clark Band Saturday, August 14: Herb Moore Trio Sunday, August 15: Maddie Hogan Monday, August 16: Blondage Rocks Friday, August 20: The Capers Saturday, August 21: Jack Melton Big Band Sunday, August 22: The Original Hobo Band Monday, August 23: Bastards Sons of Captain Mey Friday, August 27: The John Walter Community Band Saturday, August 28: Rowan College of South Jersey - Cumberland Campus Bands Sunday, August 29: Ed Goldberg and the Odessa Klezmar Band Monday, August 30: Gordon Vincent Friday, September 3: Geno White Trio Saturday, September 4: The Squares Sunday, September 5: The John Walter Cape Community Band Friday, September 10: The Honeyhawks Saturday, September 11: Bluebone Sunday, September 12: Jack Melton Big Band

The fall edition of our famous four day sidewalk sales is happening this September! Occurring twice annually, once in the spring and once in the Fall, our sidewalk sales are famous for some incredible deals from our Mall merchants. Most of the Mall's boutiques, gift shops, specialty stores, and other shopping options set up tables and displays on areas of the Mall in front on their storefront with a variety of specials featuring great savings on clothing, gifts, collectibles, jewelry, and more! The specials will not just be on leftover summer merchandise (though there will be plenty of that too...and now is the time to prep for next summer). You can expect deals on fall and winter related items as well, such as Cape May crew neck sweatshirts, scarves, and sweatpants. There are savings to be had for everyone! Our Fall Sidewalk Sale is also a great way to get started on some of that Christmas shopping. Yes, we said it...Christmas shopping. It is never too early to get start crossing off those wish lists. On the first day of the sale, there will be exactly 100 days until Christmas! If that isn't a sign to start your holiday shopping, we don't know what is. Plus, for the Cape May lover in your life, there will be plenty of souvenirs and other Cape May-related items on sale. Our 2021 Fall Sidewalk Sale runs for four days from Thursday September 16th through Sunday 19th. Tables and displays will be set up along areas of the Mall from 9am to 7pm each day. Cape May is known for its stunning September weekends that are still just like summer! Warm temperatures, sunny skies, and refreshing breezes are common. This sounds like all the more reason to make your way to the heart of Cape May and take in the sales. In fact, why not make a whole weekend out of it? We have enough shopping, dining, and activities on the Mall to keep you busy and happy all weekend long! In addition to Cape May's many hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts, there are even some options for accommodations along the Mall. Check out our Activities & Services page if you are looking for a place to stay at the center of the sidewalk sales! We'll see you on the Mall!

Even though it is mid-August, there is still plenty of summer left. In fact, Cape May typically experiences summer-like weather through Columbus Day Weekend. That means you still have plenty of time to take advantage of everything that the Washington Street Mall has to offer in the summertime. To help, we've created the ultimate heart of Cape May summer bucket list. Have you checked off all of these ideas yet? If not, start planning today! Dine al fresco The Mall has tons of options to enjoy the beautiful summer weather and dine al fresco. The City of Cape May has provided expanded options for outdoor dining due to COVID-19, including closing off Decatur Street between Carpenters Lane and Lyle Lane. Most restaurants on the Mall have some type of outdoor patio dining area lined with luscious flora. A variety offer some degree of shade for those hotter dog days of summer, while others are tented to provide cover in case of inclement weather. No matter whether it is a hot stifling summer day or a breezy summer night under the stars, there is nothing like dining al fresco in the heart of Cape May. Enjoy some ice cream Ice cream and summer is the perfect match. With six different ice cream shops, including options on every block of the Mall, you are never far away from a sweet, cool treat. Each ice cream shop has its own flair, including options from frozen custard cones to large brownie sundaes and everything in between. Get a new summer outfit Our numerous boutiques offer the season's hottest fashions from both renowned top designers and local up and coming talent. You deserve to look your best during the best time of the year. Stop by some different shops and find new clothing...it could be a new dress for the ladies or new boardshorts for the guys. Accessorize your outfit with charms and pearls and a new summer bag. Don't forget the shoes...they complete the look! Rock out to live music in the park Music in Rotary Park, just off the 400 block of the Mall, is a Cape May summer tradition that has been happening for nearly five decades. Children and adults alike will often dance to the beat as the sun goes down and the music plays. From some of Cape May's hottest local musicians such as The Bastard Sons of Captain Mey and Maddie Hogan to patriotic music from the 63rd Army Band and America's Sweethearts, the lineup is sure to keep you entertained. Come early and/or stay late and explore the Mall's boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, candy stores, and ice cream shops. Learn more and see the lineup: https://www.washingtonstreetmall.com/post/enjoy-music-the-mall-this-summer Work out in the park The City of Cape May also hosts Zumba in Rotary Park everyday except Sundays from 8:30am to 9:30am. Zumba is perfect for everybody and every body! Each Zumba class is designed to bring people together to sweat it on. The instructors take the "work" out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. Once the Latin and World rhythms take over, you'll see why Zumba fitness classes are often called exercise in disguise. Super effective? Check. Super fun? Check and check. Zumba is a total workout, combining all elements of fitness – cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, boosted energy, and a serious dose of awesome each time you leave class. Drop in for only $5 per class. After class, refuel at one of the Mall's delicious bakeries and coffee shops. Snap a new picture for the 'gram There is a reason why the Washington Street Mall is known as Cape May's picturesque town square. There are so many different photo backdrops, it is hard to choose just one. Our red brick pathways are lined with well manicured planters, trees, and shrubs. At night, the trees are lit with shiny white lights. The buildings that make up our shops and restaurants are cute and colorful and have fascinating architectural features. Flowing fountains make up the center of the 400 and 500 blocks, while an antique clock makes up the center of the 300 block. Finally, no trip to the Mall is complete without a picture at the famous Cape May bell on the 500 block. We hope our Ultimate Heart of Cape May Summer Bucket List helps you to make the most of the best time of year in Cape May. We'll see you on the Mall!

It is the best time of the year in Cape May: the 4th of July! There is no better place to let freedom ring and celebrate America than in America's Original Seaside Resort. As the first beach resort town in the United States and a vacation spot for several U.S. presidents, it is no wonder that there is a deep love and appreciation for our great country here in the heart of Cape May - and it shows. The Washington Street Mall is lined with hundreds of American flags, both big and small. We also have Liberty Way on the 500 block, numerous monuments dedicated to those who fought for our freedom, made-in-America products, patriotic concerts, and America-themed clothing and gifts. Clearly, the heart of Cape May is THE place to be this 4th of July. Several events are scheduled on and around the Mall this weekend to the celebrate the 4th. First, we have our 50th Anniversary Kickoff happening Friday at 6pm at the fountain on the 400 block, adjacent to Casale's Shoes. We officially opened as the Washington Street Mall on June 24th, 1971, and we're so excited to be celebrating 50 years as Cape May's town square. Mayor Zack Mullock, city officials, Mall merchants, and others will give remarks on the Mall's impact on Cape May over the past 50 years and give best wishes for the future. Former Councilwoman Bea Pessagno, whose father was instrumental in the formation of the Mall, will reflect on the Mall's history and how it came to be. There may also be other surprises in store as well! This event is meant to kickoff our 50th anniversary and the celebration is likely to continue all year long. Looking for live music this weekend? You got it! Music is scheduled in Rotary Park (just off the 400 block of the Mall) each night this weekend, including some fitting patriotic music. The 63rd Army Band, comprised of a diverse group of musicians from New Jersey's Army National Guard, kicks off the weekend Friday night. On Saturday night, relive America's swing era with the Jack Melton Swing Band. Finally, pregame the fireworks and enjoy history through harmony on the 4th of July with America's Sweethearts. All concerts start at 7pm, and don't forget to bring a beach chair or blanket as seating is limited. Come early and/or stay late and grab dinner or dessert at one of the Mall's fantastic dining options. Cape May is setting off fireworks on the 4th of July from a barge off Steger Beach, which is a block off the Mall down Jackson and Perry Streets. If you position yourself right, you should be able to see them over the buildings along the Mall. If you are on the beachfront, be sure to swing by the Mall to get your obligatory post-fireworks ice cream cone. It is tradition! Still need that 4th of July outfit? You're in luck! Numerous shops and boutiques on the Mall have the perfect outfit to show your American pride. Looking for some last-minute decor? Import Bazaar is your go-to spot for American flags of all sizes. With festive decor, enjoyable events, and an overall exciting atmosphere, you do not want to miss the 4th of July in the heart of Cape May. As America's Original Seaside Resort, we do Independence Day right. We'll see you on the Mall!

By now, everyone is ready kick off summer, especially with the COVID-19 struggles over the past year. And if all indications are correct, it is going to one incredible season. The best place to celebrate the start of summer this Memorial Day Weekend is in the heart of Cape May on the Washington Street Mall. The Mall is THE place to be! As of Friday, May 28th, there are no COVID-19 restrictions or mandates in place that affect any businesses on the Mall. Masks and social distancing are no longer required, and we are super excited to see your smiling faces again! Do keep in mind though that some establishments may choose to continue these safety precautions, and if they do, we ask you to respect that. Seated service at bars and restaurants is no longer required and dance floors can reopen, so we'll see you at the Ugly Mug or Fins to see your dance moves for the first time since March 2020! Mayor Zack Mullock opens summer with a special celebration on Friday at 6:30pm in Rotary Park, just off the 400 block of the Mall. Mayor Mullock will welcome summer and outline what is to come in Cape May this season. Immediately following the Mayor's message, catch your favorite blues, motown, reggae, 90s alternative, and more great music as Subliminal Message Band rocks the night away. We also hear that Cape May's famous Captain Mey might make an appearance this summer...find out Friday night at Rotary Park how you can help the City capture him! Following the music (or before, we won't judge), head over to the Mall to grab some ice cream! It is only right to treat yourself on the first night of summer. Just to name a couple, whether it be a custard cone from Kohr Brothers or a huge cookie sundae from Ben & Jerry's, there are plenty of options for all! Be sure to hit up the Mall's boutiques over the weekend to complete your summer wardrobe. Think your wardrobe is complete? Think again...you can never have too much! Just to name a couple, Making Waves has new summer sandal arrivals, and Sea Star Boutique has the perfect dresses to have you summer ready. It is very important to remember, however, the true reason of Memorial Day. All gave some, but some gave all. As you stroll down Liberty Way, think of that fact. Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle or from wounds they suffered in battle. Take the time to reflect around the Mall's many monuments and historical markers. The Mall is also decked out in hundreds of American flags, big and small. Let these flags be a reminder that we live in the greatest country on Earth, and let freedom ring in America's Original Seaside Resort! See you in the heart of Cape May!