Shopping in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach
There’s more to Pleasure Island than beach chairs, boardwalk rides, and deciding where you’re getting your next frozen drink.
Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are home to an eclectic collection of locally owned boutiques, surf shops, markets, art galleries, gift shops, and beach stores. Whether you're looking for a new vacation outfit, locally made gift, coastal décor, surf gear, or something to remember your trip by, there are plenty of places worth exploring.
Even better? Shopping local is one of the easiest ways to experience the personality of Pleasure Island beyond the beach. Here are some of our favorite places to shop in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.
Boutiques & Clothing
Coharie Coastal Boutique
For elevated coastal style, Coharie Coastal Boutique is worth adding to your list. The shop carries a curated mix of apparel, jewelry, accessories, gifts, and lifestyle pieces with an easygoing coastal feel.
This is a great stop when you're looking for something a little more polished than traditional beachwear, or when you suddenly decide your vacation wardrobe needs another outfit.
Find it: 120 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
OOMA Boutique On the Beach
One of the newer additions to Carolina Beach shopping, OOMA Boutique brings vacation-ready women's fashion right near the heart of downtown.
Expect swimwear, coverups, hats, sunglasses, bags, accessories, and casual coastal pieces you can wear long after the vacation ends.
Find it: 112 Cape Fear Blvd., Carolina Beach
Salty Chic Boutique
Salty Chic Boutique offers women's clothing, accessories, jewelry, and giftable finds with plenty of beach-town personality.
It's a fun stop for an easy vacation outfit, accessories for dinner that night, or a little something you definitely didn't technically need but bought anyway.
Find it: 1018 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Unique Boutique
True to its name, Unique Boutique is all about finding something a little different. The locally oriented boutique carries women's clothing and accessories ranging from casual coastal looks to pieces that can easily transition beyond the beach.
Find it: 207 S. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Gifts, Coastal Décor & Local Finds
Sumthin' Beachie
If your Carolina Beach vacation has you reconsidering the entire décor scheme of your house, start here.
Sumthin' Beachie specializes in coastal home décor, gifts, accessories, locally made goods, and beach-inspired finds. It's particularly good for housewarming gifts, beach-house décor, or bringing a little bit of Carolina Beach home with you.
Find it: 809 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Fuzz Love
Located near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Fuzz Love is for shoppers who want something a little less predictable.
The eclectic boutique carries apparel, globally inspired crafts, accessories, décor, and unique gifts that feel very different from the standard beach-town souvenir shop.
Find it: 2 Carolina Beach Ave. N., Carolina Beach
Seaside Shenanigans
Shopping and ice cream in the same stop? We're listening.
Located with Celtic Creamery, Seaside Shenanigans carries beach-inspired gifts, accessories, home décor, totes, hats, towels, coverups, and other fun vacation finds.
Browse the shop, get the ice cream. Obviously.
Find it: 201 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Oceanside Art & Gifts
For something that feels more connected to your actual trip, stop by Oceanside Art & Gifts near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk.
The shop focuses on locally inspired artwork, handmade gifts, coastal keepsakes, and pieces that make a much more interesting souvenir than another generic refrigerator magnet.
Find it: 105 Carolina Beach Ave. N., Carolina Beach
Siren's Cove
Right on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Siren's Cove combines locally inspired gifts and accessories with the kind of beach-day essentials you inevitably realize you forgot once you're already near the ocean.
You can browse jewelry, candles, sunglasses, and souvenirs while also grabbing things like sunscreen, water shoes, toiletries, and other practical beach necessities.
Find it: 11 Boardwalk, Suite 120, Carolina Beach
Surf Shops & Beach Gear
CB Surf Shop
A Carolina Beach staple, CB Surf Shop has been locally owned and operated since 2002.
The shop carries surfboards, water gear, apparel, sandals, accessories, and beach essentials for men, women, and kids. They also offer equipment rentals, making it a useful stop whether you're an experienced surfer or just feeling ambitious after watching somebody catch a wave from your beach chair.
Find it: 209 S. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Bert's Surf Shop
Another longtime surf shop on the island, Bert's carries surf gear, beachwear, swimwear, shoes, skate gear, and casual coastal apparel.
It's an easy stop when you need something functional for the water but would also like to leave with something you'll actually wear again.
Find it: 800 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Carolina Surf Brand
Located near the Boardwalk, Carolina Surf Brand blends local surf culture with coastal lifestyle apparel and accessories.
It's an especially good stop if you'd rather bring home something that actually feels connected to Carolina Beach's surf community.
Find it: 11 Pavilion Ave. S., Carolina Beach
A Pleasure Island Must: The Veggie Wagon
We're stretching the definition of "shopping" here, but The Veggie Wagon deserves its own category. This locally owned gourmet market has been part of Carolina Beach since 2009 and has become a favorite with locals and repeat visitors alike. You'll find locally sourced produce, housemade take-and-bake meals, grab-and-go foods, baked goods, specialty groceries, craft beer and wine, local honey, jams, sauces, handmade products, gifts, and plenty of beach-house snacks.
It's one of our favorite first-day-of-vacation stops. Stock the refrigerator, grab something easy for dinner, pick up snacks for the beach, and absolutely investigate the crab dip situation.
Find it: 608 S. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Don't Skip Kure Beach
Kure Beach is quieter and more residential than neighboring Carolina Beach, so you won't find the same concentration of shops — which is part of its charm.
One stop worth making is Happy Hippies Java Hut, located just steps from the Kure Beach Pier area. Along with coffee, you'll find small gifts, souvenirs, and locally made items in a colorful, laid-back little shop.
Grab a coffee, browse for a few minutes, and walk over toward the pier or Ocean Front Park.
Find it: 109 K Ave., Kure Beach
Treasure Hunting & Rainy-Day Shopping
The Shoo-Fly Station Vendor Mall
If you love vintage finds, collectibles, secondhand treasures, and the thrill of having absolutely no idea what you're going to find, head to Shoo-Fly Station.
The indoor vendor mall features individual booths with a constantly changing assortment of vintage pieces, gifts, collectibles, décor, and secondhand finds.
It's also a solid rainy-day option when the beach isn't cooperating.
Find it: 1140-A N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Shop the Carolina Beach Boardwalk
If you don't want an itinerary, don't make one. Head toward the Carolina Beach Boardwalk and wander. You'll find surf-inspired apparel, beachwear, souvenirs, art, gifts, accessories, snacks, and plenty of places to stop for food or drinks along the way. It's especially fun later in the afternoon when you can shop for a while, grab dinner, walk the Boardwalk, and finish the evening by the ocean.
Vesta Tip: Park once and make an evening of it. Shopping + dinner + Boardwalk + sunset is a very solid Carolina Beach itinerary.
Shop Small on Pleasure Island
Part of what makes Carolina Beach and Kure Beach special is that they haven't lost their local personality. Independent shops, boutiques, surf stores, markets, artists, restaurants, and other small businesses are a huge part of that. Shopping locally means you'll probably go home with something more interesting, and your vacation dollars help support the businesses that keep Pleasure Island feeling like Pleasure Island.
So buy the earrings. Get the sweatshirt. Bring home the coastal décor you're already trying to figure out how to fit in the car. You're on vacation.
Stay Local with Vesta Property Group
At Vesta Property Group, we believe a great Carolina Beach or Kure Beach vacation goes beyond where you stay. Our local guides are designed to help you experience Pleasure Island like someone who actually knows it — from favorite restaurants and coffee shops to beaches, shopping, attractions, events, and hidden gems. Because the best beach vacations aren't just about finding a place to stay. They're about finding your places while you're here.
Explore Pleasure Island. Shop local. Stay with Vesta.
