New Views for Local Crews: Art Off the Avenue Comes to Rehoboth

Ally Vonlindenberg

Staff Writer Art Off the Avenue, formerly known as the Gallery on Savannah, opened their new location in Rehoboth after moving from a smaller studio in Lewes. They relocated and opened the Rehoboth gallery on January 18, with a grand opening during President’s Day weekend. 

The original store in Lewes was the first place available when Susan McLean and Kim Johnson had initially decided to start a business. “We were hoping to get on Second Street where all the shopping’s done, but it was what was available at the time. We were there for exactly three years,” McLean said when asked about choosing a location. “...when we saw the space we knew there would be more foot traffic [in Rehoboth Beach] than there was in Lewes… and we have more space to share the love.”

McLean and Johnson, though partners sharing their love of nature through photography, both have very different backgrounds in the field. Johnson’s father and grandfather had plenty of experience with photography.

“I’ve always been into it but I never pursued it as a career... I don’t really know how it happened, but I’m glad it did.” Johnson states. She got further into it around 2010, sticking with the hobby even when things got difficult, and now makes a living from it. 

On the other hand, McLean worked as a professional writer. When she moved to Delaware full time, she quit her job to help her children adjust to the new environment. “I started taking walks more often, and I’d take pictures, and when I posted them, people would always comment ‘Oh, I’d buy that.’” McLean had said when asked about her reasons for pursuing photography.

The lease on the Rehoboth location started January 1, where it was greeted with snowfall only a few days later. “All we had done was clean up and paint a bit, and when the time came to move stuff, we had to go through a foot of snow. It took us 17 full days before the new studio was where we wanted it.” McLean expresses.

The pair had worked nonstop to move in fully, and they successfully did the following day. “There’s already been more foot traffic here than there was in Lewes, which is interesting, the way it worked out; it’s good though, we’re doing it.” 

Art Off the Avenue is set to be open full-time over the summer, and mostly weekends during the off-season. Private consultations and appointments will continue to be available for browsing all seven days of the week. The new location is at 33 Baltimore Avenue, in the little nook of Baltimore Commons.