photo
by
Zhalman
Harris
I AM DESTIN
Jim Dettle
What is your hometown, what brought you here to the
Emerald Coast and how long have you been here?
I was born is Houston, but have lived on the Emerald Coast since I
was fi ve years old. My father was an Air Force Major here at Eglin,
and he built the 13th house on Okaloosa Island, where I was raised
and grew up. I have been a Destinite for over 50 years.
What is your profession and what led you to choose it?
I am co-owner of Today’s Boutique, along with my fabulous
wife Kim. We have been in retail for over 38 years now. I began
designing jewelry and had many locations over the years including
Sandestin Gift Shop, Lionshead Lodge in Vail Colorado (where
I met Kim), and Blach’s Brookwood Village Department Store
in Birmingham, Alabama. We also had stores in Seascape and
Sandpiper Cove until opening in the Shores Shopping Center in
1981 as Nature’s Pieces. We evolved a short time later as Today’s
Jewelry and Gifts. Later Kim and I decided to go to San Francisco
for a merchandise show and placed orders for apparel and the
evolution began into the clothing business, which has been
changing ever since. We have now been in Paradise Key Center
with our current store Today’s Boutique since 1995. It has really
been a natural progression of following what we love to do.
Choose three words that best describe you.
Warm, humorous, and loyal.
What do you like best about Destin?
Destin is one-of-a-kind in beauty, and has a great community. It
is defi nitely where our hearts are now, and we aren’t planning on
leaving. We look forward to our years ahead and taking time to
enjoy more.
What is your favorite thing about Destin?
The gorgeous beaches, great seafood, the harbor, boating and
our wonderful clientele that we visit with and dress at Today’s
Boutique every day.
Finish this statement, I AM DESTIN because…
I feel like Kim and I are part of the fabric of this community. We
have created and enjoyed our great business for 38 years. We have
done so much with so many wonderful people here. I’ve lived here
for over 50 years... those are all the years I will admit…all right…
maybe 60 something?
90 IamDestin.indd 1
5/30/19 1:31 PM