By Patricia Lee, Owner Destinites.com
During December, I asked our targeted locals Facebook group the following question:
What stores would you like to see come to Destin or what would you like to see implemented for the city in the coming 2025 year? I love asking this question at the beginning of each new year since some needs of the city can certainly change from year to year. As citizens, the hope is that city/county council members, the mayor or some deep pocketed entrepreneur will see the suggestions and take action. Note: There was one store which was repeatedly mentioned to an overwhelming degree, and that was Trader Joe’s! Members also expressed specific ideas that the city could implement.
Member responses:
1. Trader Joe’s is much cheaper than a lot of grocery stores. And they have a wonderful selection of cleaning products and personal care stuff. The meat and breads are a really good deal, along with their gluten-free and dairy-free options. I will drive to Tallahassee for a Trader Joe’s shopping trip for a day, because the food prices and selections are that good.
2. I would still like to see walkovers built at various points up and down 98; especially at Harborwalk Village. It’s getting more and more crowded in season, thus becoming increasingly dangerous at the intersections.
3. I still desperately want a food truck area where multiple food trucks can park and there is some green space and picnic tables!
4. Make Taylor Clements Park on Calhoun Dr. dog friendly (on leash and pick up station).
5. Walkway from Calhoun under the bridge to Harbor Walk.
6. Dave and Busters for sure! Keeps tourists happy and locals!
7. I don’t want to drive to Shalimar for dinner after working a 10-hour shift. Destin needs something for the folks that live here and work for all the tourists. We need something to help us for a change!
8. Bands on the beach! Affordable, better clothing stores. Not too cheap, but not a boutique. I’m really having a hard time finding clothes.
9. A Planetarium
10. Fixing the playground at the Morgan Sports Complex. Coming up on 10 months that it’s been mostly torn down and nothing has happened.
11. It would be awesome to see more locally owned restaurants. I, for one, would love a healthy food option restaurant and a really good place to get soup that wasn’t 10 bucks.
12. A resident-only beach access! How is it that residents have to fight for beach access and parking against tourists every year when we pay taxes and live here? I still believe that a deal could be worked out between the city and the hotels for either a discount or deal for beach access for locals.
13. A park for autistic and disabled children.
14. We need entertainment inside. When it rains, people don’t know what to do. Wish malls were inside. PCB getting top golf, dinner on a boat show inside by Dolly, tootsies, etc. We need more to do inside. No more fast food, storage units, apartments or car washes.
The complete list of suggestions of which there were over 400, can be seen in our Destinites Facebook group at www.Facebook.com/groups/Destinites.
Happy New Year To All!
If you are a Destin resident or in the close surrounding area, I invite you to join our private targeted group for locals and property owners at www.Facebook.com/groups/Destinites with 11,000+ members (Est. Oct. 2018). Check out our monthly newsletter and local business directory at www.Destinites.com. If your business is listed in our local directory, you may advertise in our Facebook group.
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