Our Stories
Kori & Steve, Owners
Our mission at Coconut Barrel is to offer a fun and engaging shopping experiece with plenty of opportunities to discover new products form some of the are'as best artists, designers, and crafters. This is a fantastic way to support small businesses and local creatores while also enjoying a unique and memorable shopping experience
Laura Beth, Store Manager
My husband, Josh and I are from Athens, Tennessee. We moved to St Augustine in 2019. We needed a fresh start and I truly believe the Lord led us here. Shortly after moving we got involved with a church and our lives began to drastically change for the better. Josh became part of the local music scene and started playing at Coconut Barrel’s Thursday night market. Steve and Kori hired me not long after we met and I am so thankful for their love, friendship and guidance. I have now been at Coconut Barrel for 3 years and I feel very blessed to be here. I love the vendors, the customers, and everyone I work with. I have never considered myself “crafty” but since being around so many wonderful and talented artisans it has inspired me to take up various projects and try my hand at crafting. I hope to see you at Coconut Barrel soon and God bless you!
Alyssa, Assistant to the President
The Faithful Merchant maked inspirational & faith-based jewelry, accessories, and decor. I'm inspired most in life by Jesus and all He's done for me. My goal is to encourage & bring hope to others through my work! I've been a vendor & staff member since 2019 and I became Kori's assistant earlier this year! Kori and Steve are like family and we love them dearly. I've been married to Jon for 17 years this year. We met when we were 14 years old on a youth mission trip! We have three boys (ages 10, 12, 14 this year) that we homeschool. We're super involved at our church & have lived in Saint Augustine since 2018! When I'm not working or schooling, I love being at the beach or out in nature. I am a hippie at heart and love all things natural & holistic. I have over 40 house plants, a Schnoodle named Bentley, and I'll never get tired of seeing dolphins in the wild - they've been my favorite since I was a little girl.
Noel, Social Media & Market Manager
Noel was born and raise in Jacksonville, Florida and is the owner of Bello Boopie Inc. Noel's journey with Coconut Barrel started in February of 2019 when he answered a call of artisans from a Facebook post. Later that year, we asked Noel to become our Social Media Manager. Because of his previous experience in arts market management, we asked Noel to become our Market Manager in 2020.
Noel is committed to help all of our vendors succeed through mentorship and small business tips. Noel won the Riverside Avondale award as the inaugural 2021 Riverside Arts Market Maker of the Year for his help in mentoring artists, but help support the organizations artist during the pandemic closure.
Lauran, Store Associate
I moved to St. Augustine in June of 2020 and fell in love
with the area immediately. I was born and raised outside of Boston, then lived many years in NYC and the last thirty years in Maryland. I have a fifty-year
career in customer service. My first twenty-two years were spent in Retail Management mostly in NYC working in such stores as Ann Taylor, Bergdorf Goodman and opening the Abercrombie & Fitch store at Seaport. I then switched to Property Management in Maryland, managing many multi-family communities
including multiple apartment communities around Washington D.C.
My dream was always to live by the beach and sell my handmade wares which I have accomplished here! I’m so excited to be a part of the team here at Coconut Barrel offering the best of local artisans and being embedded in this great community.
Cheryl, Store Associate
Hi, I’m Cheryl; a full time sewist and former naturopathic clinic manager from Minnesota. My passion for sewing was inspired by my mother and my grandmother. Creating my sewing business Thimblebee Designs “seamed” only natural.
Once, while visiting St. Augustine, my sister-in-law brought me to Coconut Barrel and from that moment I dreamed of the day to have a booth of my own. After traveling to St Augustine for the last 30 years to visit family, my dream came true in 2021. My husband Grant and I moved to Palm Coast and I have a booth of my own: Thimblebee Designs, where I can share my sewing talent and be surrounded by like minded makers. Even better, I am now a part of the Coconut Barrel Team! I look forward to greeting you the next time you pop into the Coconut Barrel.