Thrasher's Fries - a Delaware and Maryland Beach Tradition

A beach vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware or Ocean City, Maryland cannot be fully enjoyed without a visit to Thrasher's Fries on the boardwalk. Thrasher's is famous for their French fries, as they have been around since 1929.

Thrasher's started out with one location on the Ocean City boardwalk. Since the first outpost, they have branched out to 5 locations. There are three Thrasher's spots on the Ocean City boardwalk and two locations in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

I recently visited Rehoboth Beach (in February) and the Rehoboth Avenue location at the boardwalk was open, to my surprise. This location is open all year and only closes for a few weeks between January and February. The Ocean City, Maryland locations are open from May through September.

So what makes Thrasher's such a staple of the beach experience? It's the taste as well as the ritual which deems them special. Thrasher's fries are hand cut potatoes fried in peanut oil. They have the perfect amount of crispness when you bite into them.

The only way to eat them is with a little bit of salt sprinkled on first. Then you douse some apple malt vinegar on top for a savory flavor. Ketchup is not served here (some kids may be initially disappointed at this but they will love the fries after the first ketchup-free bite!).

The French fries come in three sizes. A small 16 ounce cup costs $4.00. The medium size has 32 ounces of French fries and is $6.00. The large bucket type container costs $8.00 and with that, you get 53 ounces of fries. If you are with your family, I recommend the large size, as everyone will devour them quickly.

Of course Thrasher's also sells soda and bottles of water. If you purchase a large drink, it comes in a souvenir plastic cup. The sign at the boardwalk stand says you can keep the cup and get refills for a dollar all summer. This is a great loyalty marketing idea.

I often wondered who owns Thrasher's Fries. According to the website of Chesapeake Life Magazine, the owner is 74 year-old Buddy Jenkins. He also owns the timeless Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City, Maryland. His portfolio of investments doesn't stop there. He owns the Days Inn Oceanfront Hotel on 23rd Street, the Howard Johnson Oceanfront Plaza Hotel on 12th Street, and another Howard Johnson Oceanfront Inn on 24th Street (all in Ocean City).

I plan on returning to Thrasher's over the summer and can't wait to taste those unique, delicious fries.