In this beloved Maryland resort town, women-led businesses are making waves.

During the pandemic, 31-year-old writer Mickie Meinhardt traded her hectic life in Brooklyn for her hometown of Ocean City, Maryland. Amidst lockdown, she launched the town's only bookstore, the Buzzed Word, located in North Ocean City. This inviting space also serves as a natural-wine bar, featuring a collection of books predominantly by authors of color, including international translations. The shop actively supports the local LGBTQ community and even organized the city’s inaugural Pride event in June.

Meinhardt and I crossed paths in 2015 when she joined the MFA fiction program I teach at the New School in NYC. Back then, she was crafting a novel that explored women's contributions to building Ocean City since the late 19th century. This legacy continues today, as the city nurtures a vibrant community of young, creative, and supportive female entrepreneurs.

"I've spoken with fellow small business owners about the thrill of introducing something fresh and enriching the culture of our hometown," Meinhardt shared. "We’re eager to see this area thrive." Intrigued, my husband and I booked a long weekend stay at Aloft Ocean City, featuring a balcony with stunning views of the glimmering Assawoman Bay.

In many ways, the charm of the barrier-island fishing village remains intact since it transformed into a resort in the 19th century. Families and spring breakers enjoy the waves, stroll along the boardwalk, and indulge in taffy, funnel cakes, and ice cream everywhere you look. While fires consumed the old Victorian hotels, the nostalgic architecture persists, with downtown's modest motels evoking the 1960s and 70s. Uptown boasts a modern Atlantic City ambiance, featuring high-rise condos and hotels. Despite a year-round population of just 7,000, around 3 million tourists flock here annually, ensuring an array of upscale dining options for those weary of fried fare. At the somewhat upscale Hobbit Restaurant, I savored the best crab cakes ever, while Spain Wine Bar treated us to tapas worthy of a Madrid crowd.

However, the highlight of my trip was simply spending time with Meinhardt and her friends. Among them was Linda Barragán, the 29-year-old owner of Casita Linda, a charming Mexican café and bakery open for breakfast and lunch. Barragán caters to both tourists and locals, including a small Latin American community, with a menu inspired by her mother, Rosa’s, home-cooked meals. Fortunately, Rosa was in the kitchen during our visit. We enjoyed her chilaquiles and mañanitas—a platter of scrambled eggs, handmade tortillas, avocado slices, and refried beans topped with queso fresco. With her hair still damp from surfing, Meinhardt came in for tepache, a fermented pineapple drink, and a double espresso. She and Barragán exchanged local news, while Barragán's husband popped in during his engineering break to tackle the morning's dishes.

We spent the day at Assateague Island, a national park just 20 minutes away, basking in the sun, listening to the waves, and hiking until we came across a stunning group of wild ponies. Meinhardt mentioned they sometimes raid campgrounds like Yogi Bear in search of tasty human snacks. Later that evening in Ocean City, Meinhardt's friend, Haley Norris from Palm Picnics, arranged a gorgeous picnic in Meinhardt's midtown backyard. The table, adorned with pillows, featured dried floral centerpieces, candles, and a delightful charcuterie board. We enjoyed two exceptional bottles from the Buzzed Word: a sparkling pét-nat Chardonnay from Neu Cellars in Michigan and a marvelous Grolleau Noir named Ouech' Cousin, from the French natural-wine producer Le Batossay.

In need of hydration the following morning, we explored three more women-owned small businesses. The vibrant sights and scents of fresh and dried floral arrangements at Inner Bloom uplifted our spirits, and we bought some sweet lip mint balm from their apothecary. Further down the main street, we visited Real Raw Organics Kombucha Brewery & Café, where we detoxed with orange-cranberry kombucha. Sharing the same block, the quirky Ish boutique offers beachy, reasonably priced women's clothing and jewelry. When we inquired about their lack of bathing suits, the clerk explained: "We prefer not to compete with the shop across the street." The local camaraderie continues to thrive.

This story was originally published in the August 2022 edition of Dinogo with the title "Ocean City in Motion."