BOTE, a water lifestyle retail store opens

A new water-focused sporting goods and accessories store is now open in St. Pete. The Destin-based BOTE opened at 2401 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. this week, its first flagship retail location in the southern portion of the state. They specialize in paddle board and kayaks.

The new ‘Burg business is celebrating with a grand opening celebration this Thursday.

BOTE specializes in water lifestyle products, first opened by a couple who spent their life by, on and in the water. The store’s marquee offerings are the specialty paddle boards and kayaks the couple designed before opening their first location in Destin, as well as floating docks and a wide range of other watersport and lifestyle products. BOTE also has a large selection of water-ready and themed apparel, including shirts and hats. In its mission statement, BOTE describes its goal as being to “stand apart through industry-shaping innovation, fresh ideas and simplicity to create a product that defines a lifestyle.”

To sweeten the shopping experience even further, BOTE has a modern bar and lounge inside the 4,000-square foot space offering guests complementary Florida-brewed craft beer while they peruse the shop. The store is currently operating under tentative winter hours, open 10 am – 6 pm on weekdays and 8:30 am – 5 pm on weekends.

The interior of BOTE showing various boards and gear

The company says it chose St. Petersburg as its first southern foray because of its proximity to the water on three sides, its role as a destination for beach-goers, and its welcoming and inclusive community. If you’re looking for a paddle board or kayak, this is the spot.

“Hands down, there is no better way to experience BOTE than to walk into one of our flagship stores,” said Zack Eckert, Senior Director of Business Development, BOTE. “The passion and knowledge of our staff combined with the ability to get hands-on time with our products is truly unbeatable when it comes to understanding and becoming a part of what we affectionately call BOTE Nation. The fully immersive storefront offers customers a unique way to learn and get even more excited about enjoying life on the water. We are honored to open our doors in St. Pete and look forward to becoming a part of this energetic community.”

Grand Opening celebration slated for Thursday

While doors have already opened to the public, the “official” grand opening for BOTE St. Pete is schedule for 4-8 pm on Thursday, November 11th. After the ribbon cutting at 4 pm, the party will feature live music from The Supervillians, local food trucks Funnel Vision and Slammer Shop, and of course the opportunity to check out everything in the store. Guests are invited to hang out for the festivities and enjoy food and drink while browsing BOTE.

Learn more about the store and its history at boteboard.com

Grab your paddle board, let’s go to Weedon!