Stephanie Royal, reporting from the Small Business Development Center at UNF, told Historic City News that longstanding West Augustine store, Sailors Exchange, celebrated its new owners by holding a ribbon cutting event last week at their 222 West King Street location in St. Augustine.
The business has been catering to sailors locally and around the world for more than 20 years.
Brothers Clay and Mike Hansen are taking the helm of Sailors Exchange with an aggressive marketing strategy to bring more sailors to St. Augustine. An open house is planned on Friday, August 5th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. during St. Augustine’s Friday Night Art Walk with a boat designer showing his art work.
“It’s a cross between a flea market and a museum, complete with a library of books filled with nautical history and stories,” Royal told Historic City News. “Even non-sailors can find useful items like stainless steel faucets for outdoor kitchens.”
Robert Nimmons, Economic Development Chairman of the West Augustine CRA Steering Committee, was on hand for the ribbon cutting. Marge Cirillo and Cathy Hagan representing the Small Business Development Center at UNF assisted with the festivities after providing the new owners technical advice on their business in recent months.
Nimmons is excited about the new owners’ vision for the future of Sailors Exchange. “The West Augustine CRA has worked hard to improve the infrastructure of West King St. to attract businesses and customers to the area,” said Nimmons. “The Hansens’ marketing strategy and projected growth will contribute to the economic development of the community.”
The store is a bazaar of new & used boating equipment. Among the alleyways of the shop you’ll find shelves of lights, gauges, electrical panels, and cleats at truly discounted prices. In the courtyard, there are mounds of teak, hose, star-board, and stainless steel, alongside rows of windshields, Bimini tops, masts and booms. In the library is a rare collection of nautical books and used charts from Norfolk to the Red Sea.
In addition to the retail store on West King Street, customers can shop via the web site at www.sailors-exchange.com.
Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by Small Business Development Center
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