Larry Kramer and daugher Jennifer in front of Lynn Arden's Children Shoppe Photo by Jack Fichter

CAPE MAY — It looks like it has been on Washington Street for 130 years, but the new Lynn Arden’s Children Shoppe was just completed in May.

Co-owner Jack Kramer said he thought the time was right to put up a new building with the Washington Street Mall being reconstructed this past winter. He and his wife Lynn Arden purchased the previous building, a converted house, 25 years ago.

Kramer said while he bought the business as an investment, Lynn bought it “as a business to run.” He had worked for Sears Roebuck for a number of years in management positions.

The old building was in violation of a number of city building codes and was not handicapped accessible.

Kramer said they received quick approval from the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and Zoning Board to demolish the building and build a new structure.

The new building offers two floors of retail space with a third floor to store inventory.

Architect Steven Fenwick came up with a design that blends in with other Victorian era buildings on the block.

Kramer said the old building was demolished by Jan. 1 with a grand opening for the new building set for Memorial Day weekend.

“It was a race against time,” he said. “The building is state-of-the-art, it has an elevator and a complete sprinkler system.”

The building contractor was Wayne Lord of Future Image of Court House.

The Kramers expanded their line of merchandise to include maternity dresses and swimsuits, clothes for older girls and boys’ husky sizes.

“We were right on the money, they are selling like hotcakes,” he said.

On opening day, sales in the store broke a 25-year record.

Specialties of the store include bonnets, T-shirts and a christening shop. Rather than a store filled with slot walls to hold clothing,

Kramer built what appears as closets along the walls.

Lynn has opened another children’s store in Newport, R.I.

Their daughter, Jennifer, was slated to run the Newport store, but business has been so brisk in here, she has returned to help run the new location.

The exterior of the new store is illuminated at night and merchandise on the second floor is clearly visible to shoppers walking the mall. Kramer said sales on the second floor of the shop are going very well, something that bucks the trend for other mall stores.

The store has a new point-of-sale system which gives each item a bar code that is scanned, A computer program keeps track of inventory and reports what items are hot sellers.

The store has become a third generation operated business with Jennifer’s daughter, Arden, now helping in the store.

Jack and Lynn have four children and have lived in Cape May about 50 years.