By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(March 18, 2021) As downtown Berlin prepares to welcome The Mermaid Museum and The Rusty Anchor Seafood Market, the Historic District Commission approved exterior signs for the two new businesses during its meeting on March 10.

RENDERING COURTESY BERLIN HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
The Berlin Historic District Commission approved this simple, horizontal sign in black and white that reads “Mermaid Museum” with the addition of an arrow or finger pointing to the entrance of the new museum on Jefferson Street.

RENDERING COURTESY BERLIN HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
The Berlin Historic District Commission approved this 60-inch by 60-inch wall sign as well as a 24-inch by 24-inch hanging sign for The Rusty Anchor Seafood Market at 8 Pitts St.

Alyssa Maloof, owner of The Mermaid Museum at 4 Jefferson St., presented two choices — a vertical banner with a mermaid that reads “The World’s First Mermaid Museum” and a simpler, horizontal sign in black and white that reads “Mermaid Museum.” She also suggested adding an arrow or finger pointing to the entrance of the museum to the latter design.

“You could put like a hanging sign by the door too, a small hanging sign by the entrance,” said commission member Norman Bunting.

The commission approved the second option of a horizontal sign with the addition of an arrow or finger pointing to direct visitors.

The Mermaid Museum will open on March 27.

The commission also approved a 60-inch by 60-inch wall sign for The Rusty Anchor Seafood Market at 8 Pitts St. made with three-fourths inch exterior plywood, a vinyl overlay and full color artwork. The commission approved a 24-inch by 24-inch hanging sign as well. The hanging sign will have full color artwork on both sides. It will be made with a vinyl overlay.

Dave Engelhart, the town’s planning director, added that owner Barry Kruemmel has discussed a mural on the side of the building by the alley.

Kruemmel of the Flying Fish Café and Sushi Bar in Fenwick Island, and Chris Diforte, owner of Rusty Jimmies Seafood Restaurant in Fenwick Island, will be opening the seafood market in Berlin by Memorial Day weekend.

The Rusty Anchor Seafood Market will feature sushi-grade fish, shellfish, take-and-bake items like oysters Rockefeller, clams casino, rockfish imperial, baseball-sized jumbo lump crab cakes, soups and Japanese Bento boxes.