The city’s sesquicentennial business milestone series kicks off with Big Shark Gift Shop, a family-owned Daytona Beach store that has welcomed locals and visitors for more than six decades.
The business was founded in 1960 by Cecil and Juanita Stephens under the name Daytona Shells & Curios. In 1979, ownership transitioned to their daughter and son-in-law, Tim and Celia Pace, who expanded the store with two major additions, one exceeding 5,000 square feet and another adding more than 4,000 square feet, bringing the total footprint to more than 13,000 square feet. In 2020, the store was rebranded as Big Shark Gift Shop.
Today, Tim Pace continues to operate the business and remains deeply grateful for the employees who have helped sustain its success over the years. Among them is Margaret Johnson, who has worked at the shop for nearly 19 years and joined Pace for the interview. Both spoke about the positive workplace culture and their appreciation for the store’s location, which attracts nearby residents as well as families traveling to the area from across the country.
Located near the Ormond Beach–Daytona Beach line, Big Shark features merchandise highlighting both communities. While best known as a souvenir shop, the store also offers a wide range of beach-themed home décor and apparel for the entire family.
One story that stood out during the visit involved the store’s landscaping. Pace shared how his father-in-law, original owner Cecil Stephens, worked with a local landscaper to hand-select 40 “perfectly imperfect” palm trees, known as crooks, palms that naturally grew with a curved shape rather than straight. The landscaper took a small airplane and searched up and down Florida’s east coast to find just the right palms to surround the store. Many of those original trees are still standing today and have become a popular photo opportunity for visitors.
Big Shark Gift Shop carries nationally recognized brands including Simply Southern, Girly Girl, HUK, Salt Life, Fahlo and 4ocean. The store also offers licensed apparel tied to major events such as Race Week, Bike Week, Jeep events and promotions featuring Ford and General Motors.
With a focus on providing everything families need for a memorable beach vacation, Big Shark continues its long-standing tradition of hospitality and community connection.
As part of the city’s sesquicentennial celebration, Pace was presented with a commemorative sticker recognizing 60 years of business, which he plans to display in the storefront window as a daily reminder of the shop’s enduring support of the Daytona Beach community and visitors.
The city will continue highlighting milestone businesses throughout the sesquicentennial year and encourages other long-standing local businesses to reach out and share their stories.