News of Roses Department Store’s closure and eventual demolition has brought a wave of nostalgia and disappointment to Ocean City. For over 40 years, this store was more than just a place to shop; its familiar aisles stocked everything from beach toys to garden tools, from lady’s dresses to electronics, from groceries to home furnishings. It has become a fixture in the lives of locals and visitors to Ocean City, looking for a quick shop at a reasonable price.
Roses made the things you need and want for your vacation, affordable. It was never the most glamorous store, but usually you could find what you needed there, and it didn’t break the bank. On my first visit to Ocean City, some 30 years ago in 1994, myself and some friends were looking for a place to buy film for our cameras. “Try Roses” our boss told us. Then someone said they wanted an Ocean City T shirt and some sun screen. “Roses will have that” our boss mentioned. “Where’s the best place to get our photos developed?” I asked. “Roses” I was once again told. My friends and I couldn’t wait to see the store that was the solution to our all needs. All coming from the UK, we had never heard of Roses, and had no idea what to expect, except for an amazing store that would allow us to shop till we dropped. We got off the bus at 94th Street and saw the store at the front of the Mall. We headed inside, and it has to be said, we were left a little disappointed by what we saw. It lacked glitz to say the least, and walking in, we realized it wasn’t the sleek, modern stores we were used to back home. However, an hour later, when we were back on the bus headed north to our condo clutching full shopping bags, we realized that we had in fact managed to purchase everything we needed and had money left over, and so Roses became a regular destination throughout our summer in Ocean City. All our photos were developed there, new film bought, snacks gathered, and many souvenirs purchased to take back home stacked in our suitcases. While Roses might not have been the most beautiful store around, it held a certain charm. It was a snapshot of a different time in Ocean City, a place where practicality trumped fancy displays. Looking back, it feels like a piece of that summer we captured within those full shopping bags.
So like many visitors to Ocean City, and locals in Ocean City, we want to say thank you to Roses, our less than glamorous friend, who has always been there for us. We will mourn your loss and remember all the good times you allowed us to have.
Roses is scheduled to close permanently this June. It will be replaced by a new ACME Supermarket that will replace the existing ACME, which is also slated for demolition.
Roses and the rest of the mall that has disappeared for what, a mostly
Empty eye sore, making things disappear and not revitalizing what exist is very sad, if its about money or is it, who knows, why doesn’t the city have better control over a massive commercial property such as this one considering this is a resort town that certainly needs the revenue from the businesses that are gone. ????????
I remember Roses when I was very young. I would go in with my parents and get some sand toys and misc. items. My parents had a place on 80th street and they liked to shop there as well. Recently my wife purchased a home on 94th street. I was renovating and needed a specific extension cord. My first thought was Roses may have it, then I knew I could probably count on Ace as the second stop. Sure enough Roses has what I wanted along with a can of WD 40. To me Roses is a part of Ocean City and I will miss them!
mark
Great memories!
This breaks my heart. I loved going to Ocean City and I always made a special trip to stop and shop there.
Is Rose’s going to relocate to a property near Ocean City?
Not that we have heard
Hi my name is Dannielle and I use work at roses a long time ago I canโt believe they are closing all to put a acme grocery store there Iโm sure the Salisbury location will stay open which that roses is worse