For the past 12 years, Charlotte and Jim Hunter have owned and operated Wild Time Caribbean Trading Co. in Madeira Beach, Florida. This past fall, the husband-and-wife team saw an opportunity to open a shop about 11 miles north in Belleair Bluffs, Florida. The Hunters officially opened Coastal Latitudes as a second coastal boutique in late November 2023.
Charlotte says the new storefront is a little closer to home for the Hunters. While the Hunters aren’t planning on retiring in the near-term future, Charlotte explains that having a store closer to their hometown will help them to better prepare for retirement.
“We’re getting older, and for us, it would be nicer in years down the road to have something with not so many hours,” she says. “Wild Time is open 10 to 10 every day, seven days a week. It’s a lot.”
Both Wild Time Caribbean Trading Co. and Coastal Latitudes offer plenty of beachy apparel and gifts. Charlotte notes that the new, 650-square-foot storefront in Belleair Bluffs is focused on offering slightly more upscale gifts and less touristy items, though.
“We still get tourists into [Belleair Bluffs], but it’s a lot more locals,” Jim adds.
Since opening, Charlotte says she is the only employee working at Coastal Latitudes to get everything up and running. She plans to hire two employees at the location this year.
“Everyone has been so helpful expediting shipments to help us meet our opening target date,” she says.
