Old Salt Celebrates 35 Years on the Boardwalk

Businesses on the Ocean City Boardwalk come and go — but one mainstay of the 1300 block will celebrate its 35th anniversary this weekend.

Harry and Gloria Klause opened the  in spring 1977, and two of their grandchildren continue to operate the store today.

Old Salt will celebrate its anniversary with a 35 percent off sale on all merchandise in the store on Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22. The store opens at 9 a.m. Saturday and closes in the early evening. Sunday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

When the shop first opened, it reflected Harry Klause's interest in all things nautical: ship models, brass bells and various items recovered from shipyards. While Old Salt remains a tasteful nautical store, it now includes everything from souvenirs to fine home decor.

The Old Salt is owned and operated by Holly Buck and Stacey Klause, sisters and grandchildren of the store founders. Stefanie Kier, the general manager at the store, is a third owner.

Buck and Klause are Ocean City High School graduates and fourth-generation store owners — a great-grandfather owned the former Palmer Chevrolet in Ocean City. Their parents, Harry and Maureen Klause, own .

Buck, 35, and Klause, 39, have grown up with the store and consider both employees and customers part of the extended Old Salt famiily. While other traditional gift shops have disappeared, Old Salt opened a downtown store, , a year and a half ago.

The sisters offer these five tips for survival on the Ocean City Boardwalk:

• Evolve: Be aware of what's new and in demand.
• Customer service: They say Old Salt serves as a visitors center and concierge service as much as a gift shop. Buck takes pride in a $5,000 sale that redecorated an entire vacation home ... in the Poconos. Buck made a special trip by car to deliver the merchandise.
• Pray for good weather: The key to all good things in Ocean City.
• Custom and exclusive goods: Listen to customer suggestions for what they want.
• Having really great employees: Old Salt employs 15 in the summer, and most return season after season.

Old salt is open every year from the end of February through Thanksgiving.