You have located The Tubbys Gnome, a gnome of late night lore of years past!

In honor of Tubbys, the gnome of which you have located comes with a very specific quest.

You must email your very own written, visual, or other artwork to berlinfolklore@gmail.com along with a picture of the gnome as validation that you have claimed and secured its little lore gnome body.

Your work will be featured in the subsequent phases of this living art project, further carrying on the local lore!

Long ago, in the golden age of boardwalk nights and neon nostalgia, there stood a greasy-spoon temple beloved by all creatures of salt and sand: Tubby’s.

The midtown location was far than a late-night eatery, it was a rite of passage!

The sacred stop after shifts, surf, or one-too-many seaside spirits closed years ago, but the flavorful memory remains eternal. From the outside, it looked humble, but inside lived legends: cheesesteak subs stacked sky-high, peanut butter milkshakes spun like alchemy, burgers so good they healed heartbreak at 2 a.m, and mozzarella sticks that melted like surf wax left on the dashboard of your old car. Locals and summer souls alike swore by its griddle magic and tie-dye merch, now worn like relics of a vanished world.

When the lights dimmed and the doors shut for good, an entire community mourned, not just for the food, but for the memories of the greasy grins shared across crowded tables. In Ocean City's collective folklore, Tubby’s isn’t just closed, it’s immortal, living on in stories told between bites and beers on summer nights (Khan, 2023).

Reference:

Khan, A. (2023). Wish this would make its way back. Who remembers this spot? [Facebook post]. Ocean City Foodies (MD) Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ocmdfoodies

 (Accessed December 2025; post content no longer live, citation based on public discussion)