WEST OCEAN CITY — The Monkey’s Trunk furnishings and gifts store has moved to a new, bigger location and will be having a grand opening Feb. 11.
“We started with a small store … we’ve grown,” said owner John Meyers.
Originally located on eastbound Route 50 not far from the bridge into Ocean City, the Monkey’s Trunk moved across the highway earlier this month.
Now situated on westbound Route 50, the Monkey’s Trunk boasts a larger showroom and additional space available to rent to the public. Meyers noted that the extra room will mean more designs and collections.
Carrying furniture lines like Lexington, Tommy Bahama Home, and Henry Link Trading Co, the Monkey’s Trunk has one of the most diverse and distinctive collections in the area, according to Meyers.
“Monkey’s Trunk is kind of known for unique stuff,” he said. “We’re not some old cookie cutter beach furnishing store.”
In addition to furniture, both interior and exterior, the Monkey’s Trunk also specializes in gifts from Jay Strongwater, Beatriz Ball and Kim Seybert. Meyers revealed that Jay Strongwater is an exclusive brand.
“We’re the only one on the shore that has that,” he said.
Something else that makes the Monkey’s Trunk stand out from the crowd is the flexibility of its inventory. While some stores may have certain collections become regular fixtures, Meyers and his partner opt instead to constantly offer new collections.
“Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” said Myers of his inventory.
The self-imposed flow of items has several benefits, according to Meyers. First, it frees up space for new lines and sets. Secondly, it means that the homes Meyers and his partners do design work for won’t end up with duplicate sets.
Interior design is vital to his store’s success, said Meyers.
“A good 50 percent of the business is actually doing houses,” he said.
That part of the business often crosses the Bay Bridge onto the Western Shore.
According to Meyers, many customers who visit the Monkey’s Trunk for help designing vacation homes in Ocean City ask for the same service for their year-round houses over the bridge. It’s that level of loyalty that Meyers believes is responsible for his store’s recent expansion.
“The customers certainly helped us grow,” he said.
Though the Monkey’s Trunk just completed its move to its new home, which is located near Waterman’s Restaurant, Meyers already has an eye on what comes next. The first step, he said, will be to spruce up the building.
“The first question people ask is, ‘When are you going to fix the outside?’” said Meyers.
Meyers asserted that plans to make the exterior of the building better reflect the beautiful interior are in the works. For the long term, though, Myers hopes that the Monkey’s Trunk will continue to burgeon.
“We’ve been asked about franchises,” he said.
For more information, visit the Monkey’s Trunk online at www.monkeystrunnk.com.