About Sea Crest Gift & Gallery
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In 1954, school teacher Elizabeth Wharton, her son George and daughter-in-law Barbara built the Sea Crest Lodge. This was the first hotel in Bethany Beach with private baths and the only rated hotel on the beach for a long time. The Wharton's managed the hotel from 1954 until 1976, opening every Memorial Day Weekend and closing at the end of Labor Day Weekend.
In 1976, a successful retailed living in Washington, D.C., Freda Kimel purchased the hotel. “I loved it, I loved the hotel, but there were only 14 rooms, so it didn't generate enough income.” Because of this Mrs. Kimel turned a portion of the first floor into an upscale gift boutique and womens dress shop and called it Sea Crest Boutique.
In 1991, Freda Kimel decided, having just turned 75 that she still had a lot to do. She wanted to go on safari in Africa, she wanted to live on a boat in San Diego harbor and she still had ideas of opening another business in the San Diego area. In April, 1991 Mrs. Kimel sold the gift boutique to Brian McKinney and Sea Crest Gift & Gallery was born.
When Freda Kimel purchased the Sea Crest Lodge in 1976 the building was known as the commercial spot in Bethany Beach and she paid the highest price paid for any piece of property in Bethany Beach. When it was sold again in 1992, it was again the highest price. The new owners which include Mr. McKinney wanted to continue in the tradition of providing quality merchandise and service to our customers.
Since 1992, Brian McKinney and his business partner Celia Rick have continued in the tradition of selling beautiful and unusual upscale gift items, furniture and artwork. The Sea Crest Building, which now comprises five retail stores, is still the destination spot whenever locals, tourists, summer home owners and renters come to Bethany Beach.
Bethany Beach is a small, sleepy, shorefront town in Sussex County, Delaware. We hope if you ever have the opportunity to visit lovely Bethany Beach, which is seven miles north of Ocean City, Maryland, just off Route 1, that you will walk our boardwalk, read about the over 200 year history of our town, and, of course, visit Sea Crest Gift & Gallery in the former Sea Crest Lodge and say Hello!