The Broadkill Store comes under new ownership

For more than a century, The Broadkill Store has been a fixture on Broadkill Beach.

So when the store came up for sale, a group of locals banded together to buy it.

Bob Conte, one of the 10 new co-owners, said the store’s proprietor for 35 years, Lois Rehkemp, had decided to sell. Conte said Rehkemp mentioned this to longtime Broadkill Beach resident Missey Mulveny. From there, a group of neighbors decided to pool their resources together to purchase the store. The sale closed Feb. 1.

Co-owner Mike Hilligoss said: “We grew up around the store and we’ve seen it evolve. Our biggest goal coming together was to not see it lose its charm and character it’s had all these years.”

Fellow co-owner Lisa Conte said, “We’re going to keep the store the same, but add some more stuff to it. Give it a little facelift, but not lose the charm.”

That facelift includes new paint and an ice cream parlor with a walk-up window. Lisa Conte said they also plan to add a pizza oven and serve pizza. She said they have tried to keep most of Rehkemp’s menu, which included hearty American fare like cheesesteaks and burgers. Lisa Conte said they will be serving homemade donuts on weekends.

The new ownership plans to be open longer. Previously, the store was only open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Lisa Conte said the store will now open on weekends only starting in late April and open six days a week by May 1. Then from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the store will be open seven days a week. The store will remain open on limited hours through September and into October.

Broadkill Beach has around 600 residents in the summertime, and the store is the only one of its kind in the small beach community.

“This tends to be the hub of supplying the little stuff, as it has been for years. It draws a big crowd. People depend on the store,” Hilligoss said.

Bob Conte said they will be doing very little to the building, structurally. The building itself has held dances, a game room with pinball, a jukebox and a gift shop.

“It hasn’t changed,” Hilligoss said.

The new owners are proud to continue the tradition that is the Broadkill Store.

“Broadkill is a very unique community. People come here because it’s a quiet beach. It’s exciting for me to be a part of it,” Hilligoss said.

Lisa Conte added, “We are excited to keep it the same, and add a little something more to it.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/thebroadkillstore.