According to old legends, a Sea Captain would spear a pineapple on a fence post outside his home to let his friends know of his safe return from sea. The pineapple was an invitation for them to visit, share his food and drink, and listen to tales of his voyage.
Proprietor, Susan Hamilton, may not be a voyaging Sea Captain; but she sure has staked a symbol of welcome with her retail and gift store, Pineapple Post. Since hospitality is the relationship between guest and host; customers of this business can take lessons in perfecting the art of etiquette and entertainment to friends and strangers alike.
Pineapple Post claims its home on A1A in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, just a few blocks in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Inter-coastal Waterway. The strip-mall store does not draw much attention to itself from the streetscape, but once inside, the interior space offers not only the quaintness of a casual beach cottage, but also a complexity of rooms displaying gifts for man, woman and child. Just as one peels an onion revealing its layers, the Pineapple Post unfolds itself through series of retail vendors throughout the store. Whether someone is looking for the perfect birthday surprise, stationary, baby shower item, graduation or anniversary gift, holiday present or a hostess thank-you, this store has something to offer just about everyone.
The original owners of the store were dear family friends of Susan's husband, Craig Hamilton. Nancy and Ralph Hoyt were college pals with Craig's mother at University of North Carolina. "Since Pineapple Post is such a beaches institution, (the Hoyt's) were so happy to hand over the torch to such close family friends," implies Susan. A beaches institution indeed, the store has remained in the same location for 38 years. Adding charm to the well-established beach store; Store Manager, Gail Tetreault, who has worked at the Post since 1993 is known to greet familiar faces and newcomers with a warm and cheerful welcome.
As Jacksonville Beach has changed drastically in the last four decades, Pineapple Post remains steadfast in serving the local Jacksonville and beaches area. And thanks to modern internet technology, the store has added customers from all over the country. Brides and grooms can register for specialty items for their new home with popular lines such as Mariposa, Claude Dozorme, Juliska, Michael Aram and Arthur Court. Those who have a love for Italian inspired tabletops, visit the Vietri section for irresistable dinner and serveware, flatware and home decor. Since ladies are most likely the customer to frequent the store, many accessory lines such as Vera Bradley, Natural Life, and Peace Love Mom offer women both travel, jewelry and clothing articles. Toiletries from the lines of Crabtree & Evelyn, Seda France, Lollia, and Botanicals, just to name a few, are available in the bath and body area. Stop by the sensational pale blue stationary room to find invitations, announcements and special order books from Crane & Co., Sharp & Sally, Whitney English and so much more. Accent your pocketbook or home with Lilly Pulitzer accessories. Shop gourmet edibles from Nam's Bits cookies, J&M cheese straws, Savannah's Byrd Cookies' Key Lime Coolers and personal favorite: packaged Shrimp and Grits or She Crab Soup from Charleston's Gullah Gourmet. Before you check out at the front desk, be sure to ooh and ahh local jewelry line, Buki Designs, featuring semi-precious necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
South of MaDi wanted to know what inspires Susan to maintain ownership of her store and what she likes best about it all. She summed it up best in her own words:
"The best part of Pineapple Post is the opportunity to help people. We are not just selling stuff! We help people with the most important occasions in their lives - brides with their wedding invitations and the dishes they'll use to feed and entertain their families and friends, new mothers with their birth announcements, grandmothers with baby gifts, parents with graduation presents and parties, mothers of the groom with rehearsal dinner invitations, widows or widowers with sympathy acknowledgements, spouses with anniversary gifts, etc etc - we have the honor of helping people through the most memorable occasions of their lives, some joyful and some sad. And one of the really cool things about Pineapple Post having been around so long is that we serve generations of customers! It's so fun to have customers we met as a brides coming in to get wedding invitations and gifts for their children!"
So whether you are coming off the beach, driving out from town or browsing on the website; relax and stay awhile, for it is an invitation to visit, share and listen to Pineapple Post's tales of her voyage!
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