Bob Mika, 24, is the founder of Shoebox Delivery Service.
Bob Mika says he knows there are much better things to do on Ocean City vacations than grocery shop.
His new business, Shoebox Delivery Service, promises to cross that chore off the list.
Mika last week put the final touches on a new service that will deliver groceries to doorsteps. Customers can shop online to put together a list, pay for it by credit card, and arrange to have it delivered to any home or rental property in Ocean City, Sea Isle City or the surrounding areas.
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Visit
ShoeboxDelivery.com to learn more.
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"If I'm going to vacation down here, it's three trips to get what I want," said Mika of the grocery store, a fish market for fresh catches and a produce stand for local fruits and vegetables.
He said his new service will cover all three bases.
Unlike the shop-from-home services of grocery chains, Mika's online product list is simpler and smaller. The delivery charge is $15, and there are fixed prices for all items that may include a nominal markup, he said.
Customers can request special products and prices will be adjusted at delivery. Customers arrange delivery times when they make their purchase. Mike says Shoebox will deliver "personal service" throughout the process.
Mika, 24, is a 2009 graduate of Mainland Regional High School and a 2013 graduate of The College of New Jersey. He worked in sales for News America after graduation.
He and his girlfriend, Lauren Kelly, were looking for a way to escape Manhattan and came home to a comfortable spot. Kelly, 24, grew up in Jenkintown, Pa., and vacationed in Ocean City.
A high school classmate of Mika's, Brennan Karrer, now a web developer in southern California, helped Mika create the site.
Mika said, at this point, plans do not include maintaining the Shoebox service for year-rounders through the off-season.
For those who understand the local lexicon, the name of the company will be a clue to its target market.
