I've gone the the Islander a few times over the past couple of years and gotten some nice things. The clothes seem overpriced to me, though I have found a cute dress or two in the past, and they have held up well. I think the best section is the home goods/ gift section. They have some cute, reasonably priced items like wall hangings, candles, and decorative dishes. I got a $4 ring dish this year. It is a good place to shop for little gifts. We did have an odd experience this year. My mom and I were carrying around some decorative dishes (one each) we wanted to get while we kept looking, and employee walked up to us and asked if she could please hold them at the register. I think some stores along the boardwalk are having trouble with shoplifting, but the interaction was a bit uncomfortable. read more

The Islander - $4 floral, blue ring dish from The Islander - Shoe Stores Near Me - Ocean City, New Jersey

Wandering around the Boardwalk on a beautiful fall day, we stumbled across this place. It's really adorable - lots of items that are one of a kind or that are not typically found in chain box stores. It was not too crowded inside and the displays were very pretty. Great place to pick up a gift for someone. read more

I love going here, even if I don't end up buying anything, I visit every time that I come to OC. But like the older reviews stated, you're kind of just ignored even when you're ready to checkout. I was standing behind one of the employees for about two minutes as they were chatting over the counter & they finally asked if I was ready to be checked out. While I understand that conversations sort of just happen, to not even notice that you have people waiting is another thing. I still love going there though!! read more

The Islander is the only serious store on the Boardwalk (think: not sweatshirts that say Lifeguard and not umbrella hats). It is a super cool, original store - but the problem is no one wants to spend serious money on the beach or they would go to the Pier in Atlantic City. You'll find Free People threads, Sanuk and Rainbow sandals, Quicksilver and other men and women clothes for twentysomethings and teens. They have really cute gifts like candles, bath salts and beach crossword puzzle books. read more

The Islander - Shoe Stores Near Me - Ocean City, New Jersey

Islander is the only store on the boardwalk where you can buy cute outfits. I have spent many dollars at this place. In fact, the reason I am writing a review now is because I just dropped some dinero there and I decided to review. Helpful hint: they do markup items BIG TIME. No big designers are in Islander, it's mainly boutique style clothing. I needed a few items for this weekend so I purchased them today, BUT, I fell in love with a cute dress by a designer I never heard of. I just went online and bought it for $60 cheaper. Islander knows they are the only spot in OCNJ for cute threads. If you need an outfit asap, pay the markup. Otherwise, look around online, guaranteed you can get it much cheaper. read more

Best store on the island! :) I always get the cutest and very unique clothes here! They have a great selection of women clothing from casual to dressy for all different age groups! Their shoes are the best, they are always on trend and I usually get a pair every single summer! Great accessories and jewelry, great staff, and a great gifts section! :) read more

Only giving 1 start because I can't give zero stars. Upon visiting this summer, I was really exciting to look around and see what I could bring home. Their style from clothing to decor is everything I love. However, they quickly managed to turn that around. My friend and I were constantly followed around the store (we were the only black people in the shop). There were other people in the store and nobody else was paying attention to them. We even purposely kept bouncing around just to be sure and sure enough , they stayed extremely close by. They didn't even try making it discrete and were overly obvious. While looking around, and also when trying something on, one of the associates came in the fitting room and just stood there and stared. No conversation, compliment, no info offering, nothing. I had intended on buying at least $80 worth of merchandise and it really saddened me to leave it all behind. There's no way they were getting my money though. read more

Today was my first time hearing about the place and being inside.. Pros: I was excited because I love free people and the home decor stuff I found inside. Pretty big selection on shoes which is pretty rare for a boutique. The store was also merchandised very well. Cons: the employees. As soon as I walked in there were two workers standing by the register and looked at my friend and I as if we were intruding and then turned around. No hello or anything. There were a few other people in the store trying to figure out a few things, as the girls working there just looked at them and carried on. The WORST part was when I even heard a worker COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CUSTOMERS! She was saying how ridiculous it was that a person tried to return their Big Buddha bag. She was saying how "obviously it's not that great of a bag" and how her lining ripped within one of the first wears and how dare the customer even do that because "This isn't macys." I couldn't even believe what I heard. Talking badly about the product being sold in the store AND the customer. Let alone having this conversation in front of a handful of other customers. It was a pretty sad experience. I wanted to really like it because I liked the brands being sold, but I can get them at other boutiques and stores with much nicer employees. read more

Very nice merchandise but after many years of shopping here, I have yet to see/hear/meet a friendly employee.

Cute stuff that's pretty well priced. The best (and only?) boutique on the boardwalk where you can find unique pieces that aren't beachwear. I do have a gripe, however. The customer service was horrible! There was no one greeting despite the fact that there were three people on the floor and one right in front of the door. The worst part was that the three women at the cash register were chatting with each other the entire time customers were being rung up. There was no acknowledgment of the person standing right in front of them! The only person giving any service was the young, helpful girl in the dressing room. 4.5 stars for the eclectic selection. But minus 1.5 for terrible service by the front staff. read more

On a busy Friday night of Labor Day weekend every staff member in the store was so friendly and helpful. I have worked on the boardwalk in OC for several years and know very well how many places are understaffed at this time because many college kids are going back to school. It's very easy for a store to struggle and look messy or the girls begin to have an attitude but both my sister and myself were vey happy and pleased with our experience and purchases there. We actually came in several times before this month because the store is so inviting and neatly organized. Very clean, very clear, and very well priced. We will absolutely be back!! read more

This was my favorite store in OC for many years and always went out of my way to stop by up until today. Very disappointed and sadly will not return. Went from a 5 star rating to a 1. Reason being, I bought shoes in here for the second time and had an issue. First time, got slightly two different colored espadrilles and of course didn't realize till I was home. Second time, being today, they were marked $40 clear as day on bottom of shoe. But, once the woman(mgr/owner maybe) ran my card, charged me $44. When I questioned price, the response was "no, they're $44 according to my master sheet". She sent someone to check & I was going to wait, hoping that they would honor price marked. But, nope, she brought up her master sheet pricing again and had already ripped off the $40 tag on bottom of shoe. Not sure if she was trying to be sneaky, but I'm not stupid and know what I read because was deciding between two $40 sandals-that being one of them. Anyway, I realize mistakes are made, but I think it's bad business when not being honored how merchandise was marked to the buyer. That same excuse could be used over and over for existing merchandise. I also agree with past negative reviews in regard to customer service. Awful! I've noticed this year after year, but overlooked it because I liked some of their merchandise and no other store in area like this that I knew off. Well, I gave this place more than enough chances. No more. read more

I've only passed the store and so I never got a good chance to look at their clothes but i wish i did. does anyone know if the islander has a website where I can shop online ? read more

I have been buying clothes from here for many many years and every single time i shop there the girls behind the register are extremely RUDE. They have a bad rep when it comes to customer service. The girls that work there talk amongst themselves and never acknowledge you. Everyone ive spoken to over the years agrees that the workers there are extremely rude. Would it kill you girls to say hello and smile when a potential customer walks in?? LOSE THE ATTITUDE and you'll sell more read more

Went to islander recently and was surprised at how rude and unhelpful the employees are. The girls that work there are clearly in high school and treat it as such. Barely a hi was given and no regard for me as a customer. They were on their cell phones and gossiping the entire time. The store is really cute do its a shane they have terribke employees read more

Love the merchandise here and my daughters and I have browsed and made many purchases over the years. Last week I bought a Veronica M skirt which I love. I agree that the store is rather pricey; however, the skirt I bought was no more expensive than similar items online by the same designer. Here they actually had more of a selection. Unfortunately, I do agree with other comments who posted here about the store employees, especially those at the register. I am a well-dresses 60+ woman who spends quite a bit and I felt the girls were just as rude to me as to everyone else. At least their rudeness doesn't discriminate. No" thank you, come again" and no smile, they just acknowledged me enough to take my credit card, all the while talking among themselves. Not very good customer service. I still like the shop and will go there again, but to the owners, please give your staff some customer service training and you will do better. Don't you want your patrons to leave with a good feeling rather than a bad impression? read more