Local Businesswoman to Share How She Started Over After Sandy

STONE HARBOR ― On Wednesday, June 12 at 11 a.m., Caroline Ranoia, owner of Blue Eden Boutique, 324 96^th Street in Stone Harbor, will talk with Action News correspondent Karen Rogers of WPVI-TV, Channel 6 in Philadelphia, about her experience as a business owner displaced by Superstorm Sandy.

In October 2012, Ranoia’s former boutique in Avalon was virtually destroyed by Sandy, the powerful hurricane that devastated homes and businesses across the East Coast and caused some $50 billion in property damage. When she realized the shop could not be repaired in time for the summer 2013 tourist season, Ranoia salvaged all the merchandise she could, stored it in her tiny cottage home in Wildwood, and then scoured the listings until she found a new home on 96^th Street, the heart of Stone Harbor’s bustling business district.

“So many other business owners have similar stories to tell,” Ranoia says. “I’ve been impressed and inspired by the determination and courage of my fellow merchants, who have managed to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and in many cases begin again from scratch. It’s been a challenging period for all of us, but we’ve survived and we’re open for business.”

Ranoia is also grateful to find herself in the supportive environment of Stone Harbor’s vibrant shopping hub. “The community has really welcomed Blue Eden,” she said. “We’re making new friends every day and I think it’s going to be a sensational summer.”

Blue Eden Boutique specializes in unique clothing, one-of-a-kind jewelry, locally created art and beauty essentials. Product lines include Hobo International leather goods, Kut from Kloth jeans, vintage-inspired women’s PJs, and Ranoia’s own line of handmade Sea Foam Soaps. The aromatic hard-milled bars, made in her own kitchen from a recipe handed down by her grandmother, come in fragrances like lavender and tea tree, patchouli and peppermint. Ranoia also carries a line of sugar scrubs and invites customers to try before they buy.

For more information about Blue Eden Boutique, visit www.blueedenstoneharbor.com.