The Jaws 50th celebration officially gets underway this weekend, but Island businesses have been hard at work in the preceding months gearing up with merchandise tied to the iconic film.
In other words, sharks are everywhere — on land and sea, in stores, on T-shirts, hats, mugs, even jelly jars.
Haru Zenda, the store manager at Rosewater Wine & Spirits, said they are selling Jaws-themed wine. On the back of the label reads “you’re gonna need a bigger glass.”
The wine comes in both red and white, and is made by a California wine producer in collaboration with Universal Studios.
“People have been interested to the point where... we’re basically doing deliveries of cases right now,” Mr. Zenda said.
Linda Alley, who owns New Lane Sundries, has been doing a big business at the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market in Jaws-themed jelly.
The jelly is cranberry themed and Ms. Alley serves samples in a shark bowl, the red jelly swimming in the mouth of a great white shark.
“I was inspired because I knew that [Jaws] is a big deal this year,” Ms. Alley said.
Ms. Alley quickly sold out of her product on opening day at the farmers’ market.
Jaws T-shirts are perennial bestsellers but this year they are flying off the shelves. Soft As a Grape in Edgartown is selling shirts with “Amity Island est. 1975” printed on the front. Alina Oliinykoba, who works at the store, said it is their best seller.
The store is across from the Chappaquiddick ferry, one of the film locations.
“It’s very interesting that the store has history because [it] opened in 1972, right before the Jaws movie started,” Ms. Oliinykoba said.
A picture of Steven Spielberg visiting the store in 2023 is posted on the wall behind her.
Alex McCluskey, co-owner of The Locker Room in Oak Bluffs, added a new T-shirt design to his inventory, which includes hats for Quint’s shark tours and lunchboxes emblazoned with the movie poster.
“It’s actually been fun because people are so excited about it,” Mr. McCluskey said. “It’s nice to see that a movie that’s 50 years old still has this type of movement, recognition.... It’s still powerful.”
Alongside T-shirts and playing cards, Nautilus Gifts offers a Jaws-themed air freshener.
At Sunsations on Circuit avenue extension, shark pens and hand puppets are particularly popular, according to manager Sallie Stohler. She is also a manager at South Beach Apparel, which sells both general merchandise and collectible items, like a Jaws-themed cereal called Feeding Time.
At Coastal Supply Co. in Vineyard Haven, owner Anne-Marie Eddy ordered miniature paintings relating to sharks from Cape Cod artist John Young ahead of the season. Since then, the paintings have been selling out, particularly ones depicting the Jaws movie poster.
“They’re one of our biggest sellers,” she said.
One of the most popular Jaws-themed books at Bunch of Grapes Bookstore is Jaws: Memories from Martha’s Vineyard by Matt Taylor, which offers behind the scenes photographs and stories from the making of the film.
The bookstore also sells Jaws tote bags and keychain bottle openers. Upstairs in the kids section, shark hand puppets and picture books retelling the story of the movie fly off the shelves, according to owner Molly Coogan.
“Kids are fascinated by sharks,” she said. “There’s definitely that Vineyard connection that keeps people interested.”
CB Stark Jewelers has been taking preorders on their special Jaws 50 collection, which includes charms depicting Bruce the shark, shark tooth pendants and necklaces and Amity Island sign charms.
“We’ve always made the Amity charm and had six charms in the collection prior,” manager Sarah York said. “[The collection] is going to sell very well. We’ve taken tons of preorders.”
The jeweler has a long history with the movie, as CB Stark created the original rings that Chrissie, the night swimmer and the shark’s first victim, wore.
Ms. York recalled the jewelry store’s involvement with the film.
“It’s fun because when Margie [Meltzer] and Cheryl [Stark] were down at the Black Dog, that is when [production designer] Joe Alves walked in,” Ms. York said.
At the Wharf Pub, which used to be managed by Jeffrey Voorhees who played Alex Kintner in the film, fans recently gathered at the bar. Ian and Stefan Stolmeier were visiting from Louisiana for the anniversary with their cousin, Jeremy Stolmeier, who lives in New Bedford. Resting on the bar in front of them was a bag full of merchandise, including Jaws-themed socks, a T-shirt and a copy of Peter Benchley’s Jaws novel.
“We came here looking for Jaws memorabilia,” Stefan said. “I was sent on a little errand run by all my friends back home.”
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