By TIM KELLY
Spring is in the air, and for Ocean City-based Cruise Control Gear, a sporty activewear company, that means a new retail location on Asbury Avenue and a new partnership with the popular boutique Pappagallo.
“Spring is the perfect time for new beginnings and we are grateful for this one,” said Candice Kolins, one of two Ocean City resident tennis star sisters who founded Cruise Control in 2007.
Their line includes women’s, men’s and family activewear, and accessories.
“We are so excited, not only to be part of Pappagallo, (located at 744 Asbury) but also to team up with one of our good friends, April Scannell, the owner of the boutique,” said Kolins, a former Villanova University tennis star.
Her sister, Kristen Vogelbacher, was a varsity player at Princeton University and both women are still active players who enjoy the tennis scene at the courts adjacent to Ocean City High School.
Since opening, Cruise Control established a presence on the web and made other partnerships in town, including the Ocean City Nor’easters soccer team, city events and support for numerous community charitable organizations.
The company expanded its retail outlets from a few local ones in the early days to more than 50 all over the country today, at some of the most exclusive shops and resorts.
For complete information on the company, its products and to buy items online, visit the website , www.cruisecontrolgear.com.
As local businesses continue to recover from the former COVID-19 restrictions, Cruise Control and Pappagallo are working together to bring the local shopping experience back to the days before the pandemic.
They are doing so by offering an expanded selection of high fashion, and now high performance clothing to area residents and visitors.
“It’s amazing to be able to promote our clothing brands at our favorite downtown boutique. It’s also women empowering other women,” Candice noted with a smile.
According to Scannell, Pappagallo is a “preppy-chic boutique carrying women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags, swimwear, accessories and more, she said. “Our unique lines are truly one of a kind.”
Now, the store can add upscale performance wear to its product line.
The partnership has been in the works for a while and officially kicked off as part of the Girls Weekend Downtown event which concluded Sunday.
Although Girls weekend is technically over, Kolins said Cruise Control would still honor its sale items for anyone who sends in the postcard distributed at the event.
The line includes both men’s and women’s wear, as well as the Lilly Pulitzer line of coordinated family garb, perfect for America’s Greatest Family Resort. Cruise Control also opened a retail outlet at Bedazzled by the Sea on Ventnor Avenue in Margate, for women’s items.
“There is no better fit for our sporty chic activewear, than Pappagallo,” Kolins said. “it offers quality, and great customer service. We’re also looking forward to seeing our friends at our new retail home now that the great weather is finally here.”
