Ocean City's Coconut Club a new craft cocktail bar and coastal escape, all in one

As you take a stroll along Ocean City's hustling, bustling Boardwalk, be sure to glance up every now and then. You don't want to miss out on hidden gems and cozy, coastal escapes such as brand-new oceanfront cocktail bar The Coconut Club.

Eastern Shore native Logan Buas celebrated the grand opening of her craft cocktail bar — located at 208 Baltimore Ave. at the Park Place Hotel — with free drink samples, small bites and hand-rolled cigars on Friday, May 3.

This isn't the first time Buas has made her mark on the popular resort town destination, for she is no stranger to the Ocean City, Maryland, business scene.

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After moving away for college, and prior to returning to the East Coast, Buas hopped around from Florida to Hawaii to Australia, learning about the production of fermented beverages along the way.

In the wake of her travels, Buas was diagnosed with cervical cancer — the fourth most common cancer in women globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) — at the young age of 22.

During her recovery process, Buas found herself drawn to kombucha. The fermented beverage is loaded with probiotics, and is known for strengthening immunity and boosting gut health among consumers.

"Kombucha was my route to recovery," she said. "I was drinking it pretty regularly, and was in remission within a year. It helped curb a lot of the radiation symptoms."

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Buas, who enjoyed the science behind it all, began making kombucha herself.

After realizing Ocean City had little-to-no vegan options, she decided to open her very own small business in the resort town. Buas is happy to share that Real Raw Organics, which specializes in raw, living kombucha in a variety of flavors, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

Now, Buas is embarking on a second adventure through her newest business venture, and what she refers to as Real Raw Organic's big sister store, The Coconut Club.

Like Real Raw Organics, The Coconut Club uses high-quality ingredients, and draws inspiration from Buas's many adventures abroad.

"We're clarifying drinks, making foams, and pushing that beverage science boundary here," Buas said of her brand-new cocktail bar. "My travels have definitely played a part in the menu."

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Ocean City's Coconut Club offers much more than cocktails

In addition to craft cocktails, The Coconut Club offers patrons breakfast, lunch and dinner just a short distance away from the picturesque, vast Atlantic Ocean. Comfortable wicker furniture, a bright blue color scheme and tall, swaying palm trees give the cocktail bar a charming coastal feel.

"Just go straight to the ocean and you'll find us," Buas said with a smile.

Buas' go-to craft cocktail suggestion from the bar's extensive menu is "The Backyard Botanist."

"It's a little unassuming," she said of the drink.

Altogether, the cocktail combines the sweetness of a juiced orange bell pepper, mint, thyme, turbinado and a Scottish dry gin called The Botanist.

For those who choose to not or cannot consume alcohol, five of The Coconut Club's craft cocktails can also be made as non-alcoholic, shared Buas.

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Coconut Club says 'Ocean City has been beyond helpful'

So far, her newest business venture has been met with open arms. Buas believes The Coconut Club is an ideal addition to Ocean City's booming business scene, and hopes it will draw even more locals and beachgoers downtown.

During the outset of Real Raw Organics, Buas can recall being a 24 year-old girl with a big business dream amidst countless naysayers who questioned her capability. Even still, she persevered.

"Overall, let's be honest, it's always a little bit harder for women in business," she said. "But I have been met with so much support here. Ocean City has been beyond helpful. I've been met with excitement more than anything else."

Since its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, members of the Greater Ocean City, Md., Chamber of Commerce and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan have made appearances at The Coconut Club to express their support.

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What's Ocean City Mayor Meehan's favorite Coconut Club drink?

Meehan's drink choice, which he deemed cool and different, said Buas, was the "Clarified Milk Punch."

Through the tedious process of milk clarification, The Coconut Club has crafted a drink that is as strong as a bourbon with none of the astringent bitter taste. The process, which dates back to the 17th century, delivers a tropical flavor and looks like colored water but is, in fact, as strong as liquor.

Buas is infatuated with beverage science, and loves to explain the clarification process to her curious customers.

Not only does she want her customers to feel satisfied with their dining experience, but she also wants The Coconut Club to feel like home.

"I really hope that every person that comes in here feels a higher level of service, while not feeling any pretension. I really hope that they feel like they're home as they get to see the ocean and have a fantastic cocktail in their hand," she added.

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For owner, Coconut Club is 'a little piece of our soul being shared'

Two days prior to opening, Buas and her crew did a staff "cheers." Together, they watched the sunset, sipped on craft cocktails and came to the agreement that this was the start of something truly special. It's a moment Buas will hold onto for years to come.

"People have opened much larger businesses and much crazier things, but to me this is huge," she said. "It's a little piece of our soul being shared. Every cocktail has taken years of perfecting, so hopefully people see that, taste that, and feel that."

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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Sip on craft cocktails at Ocean City's newest bar, The Coconut Club