A popular gift store on Sanibel Island, Florida, has finally reopened after it was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September 2022.
Suncatchers’ Dream welcomed its first shoppers back on March 4 and is gradually regaining inventory and visitors.
Owner Daniel Moore Thompson recalls evacuating Sanibel Island in September 2022 in his jeep with his dogs, leaving behind his shop for safety.
The force of the storm may have destroyed Sanibel’s infrastructure, including Thompson’s home and livelihood — but his hope and vision for rebuilding the store never wavered.
“It’s like a child to me and it felt unnatural having it closed, like something was missing,” he says. “It’s so much more than a business.”
Suncatchers’ Dream is a 25-year island fixture for keepsake jewelry, watercolors, handmade cards and products with artisan whimsy from locals and artists all over the country.
The interior’s new coastal-crisp feel allows products to shine, and Thompson expanded best-selling lines such as jewelry brands Dune and Moonglow with full merchandising programs. “We decided to update and upgrade the store and it’s looking better than ever,” he says.
Light-colored wood flooring lends a more minimalistic feel, and wholesalers’ displays create attractive, brand-dedicated presentations. “Every day, I keep building fixtures and getting more product,” says Thomas. None of the store’s goods survived the hurricane. “We basically got wiped out,” he says.
There was literally an empty canvas. Thompson refers to his store as “a living entity.”
“This time, because I have so much bright product and great coastal merchandise, I decided to let the products speak for themselves and it has a more open feel,” he says of the overall vibe, which is still decidedly Suncatchers’ Dream and speaks to Thomas as a longtime Sanibel Island resident and supporter of all things local, including art.
The watercolor seascapes are back on walls for sale, as are an array of canvas prints and photography, blending with coastal gifts and jewelry.
Thomas admits, “I wasn’t sure if the building would survive.”
The four walls did, but that’s about it.
During the initial phases of reconstruction, Thomas would travel by boat from the mainland where he is temporarily living since the island bridge was destroyed. “Every day, I made my list and did everything I could to work toward being in the store, getting it set up and doing what we could to have a sense of normalcy,” he says. “But it’s going to take a period of adjustment.”
In many ways, Thompson’s reopening of Suncatchers’ Dream and the island’s gradual return is a conservation effort.
“It will be a long-term cleanup,” he says, grateful for the support of visitors who are making daytrips to the island and shopping his store. There are still few accommodations at this point with limited resort and condo options.
“Our customers who vacation here are very Sanibel loyal, so they still find ways to see us even if they can’t stay for a whole week,” says Thompson.
In the meantime, Thompson’s online store offers merchandise including the Dune and Moonglow lines, hand-painted ceramic coasters, hair accessories, artwork, greeting cards, Inis fragrances and more.
“This is the spot where I’m supposed to be,” Thompson says of Suncatchers’ Dream’s return. “I knew my only option was to come back and recreate this.”
