Walking into Pelicans and Flamingos, visitors feel as though they have arrived at Key West’s Margaritaville for an island adventure. This unique furniture store is a feast for the senses. Selling both new and consignment furniture Pelicans and Flamingos has something for everyone!
In 2009, owners Nicki and Darrell Hoke combined their talents to create a magical consignment store, Pelican Cottage, located in Venice. In 2012, responding to the need for a larger space, they moved the store to Osprey. Four years later, the couple expanded by opening a popular sister store, The Flamingo’s Nest, specializing in new furniture. Now, the two appealing destinations reside together under one colorful roof as Pelicans and Flamingos, where the team continues to provide customers with a great shopping experience.
“Our customers repeatedly tell us they like the integration better. Our employees love it, and we all feel more connected with everyone,” Nicki says.
Drawing upon prior experience in custom home building, design and spatial layout, the couple’s passion for excellence is evident within the walls of their distinct and extraordinary shop. Their whimsical, creative displays are what they are known for. As you enter the store, you are greeted by a tropical island with beach sand, palm trees and mommy and daddy flamingos watching over their nest of newborn babies. The nest of babies was created by Darrell’s mother, Elizabeth, and his sister, Kelly, as a surprise opening gift. Creative talent obviously runs in the family. Walk under an elevated Key West cottage through to a rainbow walkway with a Woody Wagon on a beach complete with a water feature and alligator fountain. Super cool!
“We discovered Key West years ago while on vacation and fell in love with the colors and architecture. We totally found our passion and vision there,” Nicki says. “We’re also inspired by Charleston, South Carolina, for the same reason.”
“After our visit, we began incorporating these beautiful tropical colors into our model homes and made design changes to our home plans," Darrell says. "We would scout consignment stores and flea markets looking for vintage dressers or cabinets to drop a vessel sink into to feature in powder rooms. This is widely practiced today, but it was relatively new back then.”
The style they personally embrace is Coastal Shabby Chic.
The coral-colored exterior of the sprawling 24,000-square-foot store features three showrooms overflowing with furniture and accessories for the entire home. Two of these showrooms are open-air, allowing the sunshine and warm breezes to flow throughout the store. You’ll find bedroom furniture, mattresses, sofas, sectionals, dining sets, outdoor furniture, artwork, lamps and home decor.
Pelicans and Flamingos carries several lines of new furniture, most of which are made in the USA, and include reputable furniture companies such as Capris, Beachcraft, Stanley Chair, Sea Winds and Ashley, to name just a few. Although they have a large selection of upholstered goods in stock and ready to go, customers have the great option of custom ordering furniture from a multitude of catalogs with more than 1,000 fabrics to choose from.
“Not everyone decorates ‘beachy,’ so we embrace the individual customer’s style preferences to help them create their vision,” Darrell says.
“Many times, customers get a myriad of opinions from family, friends and decorators, and they become a little confused,” Nicki says. “I always tell them to make selections based on what makes them happy. From styles to colors, furniture and accessory selections should reflect their personal style. Remember, your friends and family can’t see your furniture from their house.”
Their experienced sales associates and designers are always available to lend a helping hand. Never pushy, always accessible, Nicki’s and Darrell’s goal is to build long-lasting relationships with customers, many of whom they now call friends.
The casual, welcoming atmosphere encourages people to make themselves at home.
“We’ll see our customers sitting down relaxing and chatting to their friends. Others can be found humming along to the cheerful Calypso music while enjoying complimentary cookies and ice water,” Darrell says.
“Customers frequently tell us that there is no other store in the area like ours,” Nicki says. “We have gone out of our way to create a Key West-inspired theme complete with a fun and laid-back atmosphere. It has been received so well that many of our customers make our store a stop when touring the area with visitors. We’ve become a mini tourist attraction.”
Walking through the vast array of new and consignment furniture and accessories, visitors are delighted at the substantial selection and great prices. The owners regularly travel throughout Florida and neighboring states seeking artisans to bring amazing original works of local art—from signs and handmade, hand-painted furniture, to metal works and statuary. Additionally, they often have one-of-a-kind furnishings that are secured through store closeouts, model homes or estates. Sometimes they buy items just because they’ll look great in the store. These items may not be for sale, but they add to the fun ambiance and experience of visiting.
“I always explain to people who would like to buy one of our displays or personal items that if we could get another, we would gladly sell it, but if we sold all of our props, the store just wouldn’t be the same,” Nicki says.
To help customers make decisions, the furniture and accessories are artfully displayed in vignettes. This enables them to visualize the complete room grouping in their home. Many times, they will purchase the entire grouping because it is so perfectly put together.
Darrell and Nicki emphasize that their customer service is second to none, their prices are reasonable, and they offer a price-match guarantee. Those attributes, together with offering full-service delivery and long-term storage for buyers building or renovating their homes, has fostered their success and continued growth.
“It’s hard for us,” Darrell says and laughs. “If we see something at a show that we really love, we put it in the store because our house is full. The good news is that there are always new things coming in. The store changes every single day.”
Florida lifestyle furnishings, affordable prices, exemplary customer service, and a fun and unique shopping experience await you. Stop by and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!
758 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey, 941.966.0600, PelicansandFlamingos.com
