What began as a passion for Native American customs expanded into a boutique in 2008, and now the expansion continues in order to serve the community of Gainesville.
Otter and Trout Trading Co., located at 625 W University Ave., recently added another room to its store to make space for the growing collection of herbs, books, gems and unusual gifts, but the renovations aren’t over.
Eric Dreaming Trout and Kimberli White Otter have teamed up with Trimark Properties to add energy efficient windows and paneling as well as an entire new look for the store, all while keeping its doors open.
Otter said their main concern is networking with the community to create wellness on a global scale, but closing during construction would hinder these efforts.
“We want whatever the Gainesville people want,” Trout said.
Every Monday through Saturday, customers eagerly wait outside the door until it opens at 11 a.m. and continue to come and browse or seek holistic advice until the store closes at 7 p.m.
Although the store is on University Avenue, its main customer base isn’t necessarily UF students.
Otter said they get all different walks of life visiting the store and most of them discover it through word-of-mouth or from curiosity of the trinkets they spot through the window.
“I think we stay busy because people are realizing the importance of getting in touch with their ancient roots,” Otter said. “More people are interested in trying herbal remedies, opposed to chemical and pharmaceutical treatments.”
Otter gained her knowledge of herbs through a near-death experience from a car accident in 1996.
“I came back with some gifts I couldn’t really explain,” she said. “I didn’t know how I knew what I knew but it just became intuitive to me.”
She met Trout in 1997, and they combined interests to create a business selling their herbal concoctions out of a tent at Native American powwows.
Trout noticed how many people turned to Otter with their ailments, and he encouraged her to open their own store.
Otter was already working as a certified masseuse in Gainesville and when the space became available, they decided it was where they were going to stay.
Now in the store’s fifth year of being open, the pair plan on continuing to grow, improve and contribute a portion of all profits to the vision of global healing.
Their goals for the future are to provide a self-sustaining, multicultural, interspiritual center for alternative healing situated on ample property with lush foliage, live oaks and running water, medicinal and meditation gardens, healing, drum circles, workshops and nature walks.
The pair believe if they continue to serve the Gainesville community, then the customer support will help make this vision a reality.
Otter and Trout Trading Co. has been open since 2008. Since opening the store it has expanded into a room next door and is now undergoing an eco friendly facelift.
