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