A Celebration of Coastal Living at The Dune Market

When Emily Raleigh temporarily moved home to Long Beach Island in 2020, she never thought her seed of a long-held idea would fully germinate and completely change her life. Raleigh, the owner of The Dune Market in Beach Haven, had always harnessed the idea of a coastal living brand, but thought it would remain a pipe dream until she and her husband relocated to the island during the pandemic to be near family. It was during that time that Raleigh decided to make her vision a reality and open a brick-and-mortar store “reflective of LBI and the MidAtlantic coastal lifestyle.” Having previously built a successful media business in New York City, she used her knowledge and marketing expertise to plan a shop that would sell thoughtful, responsibly sourced goods for coastal living that celebrate the magic and simplicity of life by the sea. “There’s something so special about the LBI community, especially growing up and working here…you’re very much reminded this is a special place and [it’s] an honor to be a part of the business side of the community here.”

Raleigh considers herself lucky to have grown up on the island, working at several local businesses over the years, including Sur La Plage and Ship Bottom Shellfish, gaining valuable experiences along the way. “I learned so much by watching these business owners, and it was such a privilege to get to learn from them in that way.”

Once Raleigh’s idea started to take shape, she scouted the island for the perfect location, discovering things have a way of working out for the best when her first choice didn’t pan out, opening the opportunity for the space in Beach Haven. “Being in Beach Haven is such a joy,” Raleigh explains. “There’s something very special about the business community here; it’s very much like all for one and one for all, and we’re just lucky to have that.” Raleigh has been filled with gratitude since the shop’s opening day in spring of 2022 when members of LBI’s business community flocked to the shop to support a new local business.

The Dune Market is comprised of three separate sections, each designed to complement the others. The cottage offers a mix of vintage and artisan-made, fair-trade goods along with cozy home pieces. The apothecary is filled with intentional goods, all curated with wellness in mind. From nontoxic skincare to journals printed on recycled paper, each product is sourced to reflect the connection between mind, body, and spirit. And housed in the perfect cozy corner of the store, the bookshop offers a collection of light, breezy reads, perfect for reading on the beach or the front porch. Raleigh is quick to note the bookshop section is her favorite. “There’s such joy that comes with sharing books with people. I love seeing multi-generations of people picking out books together.” From romances to thrillers to historical fiction, the shop offers something for everyone, including a selection of cookbooks and coffee table books, which Raleigh explains, “are really fun to curate because they are the bridge between the apothecary, home décor, and bookshop.” The book section of the shop has proven such a hit, Raleigh started a book club two summers ago called ‘Beach House Book Club’ which meets monthly on the beach during the summer season and is a fun and enjoyable way to engage with a community of readers.

Another unique aspect to the shop that Raleigh had planned for in the original concept is the wedding registry. “I wanted to offer the kinds of things that feel like LBI and the simplicity of here; things that will stand the test of time that are not super complicated.” Raleigh enjoys working with couples and tries to make the whole experience easy and fun for everyone. The Dune Market has also taken its products off premises to local farmers markets and events on LBI, including The Garden Club vendor event and the Black-Eyed Susans Farmers Market. Raleigh is honored to have been included in opportunities that showcase local businesses. She considers herself lucky to not only be part of a supportive business community, but also to have a dedicated team of multi-generational women working in the shop, each of whom brings something truly unique to the table. “Everybody says it takes a village, and they’re mine,” Raleigh fondly notes.

In addition to being a proud business owner on LBI, Raleigh also takes pride in her surroundings, supporting local businesses on the island. Among her favorites to eat, shop, and play on the island, Raleigh can often be found with her family frequenting Russo’s and the Black Whale for dinner, picking up wardrobe staples at Allie May and Sink R Swim, or grabbing a quick snack at the Barrel Surf Café.

Despite initial plans to live and work permanently off the island, Emily is grateful for the change and thrilled to have settled on LBI. “I feel so lucky to live here and appreciate a simpler way of life and the natural beauty that is living by the beach,” remarks Raleigh, who is excited to recreate some of her childhood memories from growing up on the island with her husband and infant son.

As for the future, Raleigh plans to continue to expand the brand and offerings while remaining true to the uniqueness of the shop. As The Dune Market story goes, “…any day by the beach is a good day [and] living on the coast, whether for a day or a lifetime, is best enjoyed among family and friends.” Words to live by, and Raleigh and the team at The Dune Market work hard to capture that in the welcoming and beautiful environment they’ve created in Beach Haven.

About The Dune Market: Follow The Dune Market on Instagram or visit their website for online shopping and to learn more about their business.

About the writer: Brielle Bleeker has been vacationing on LBI since childhood and is happy to continue the tradition with her husband and children. As a freelance writer, Brielle has published articles related to books, travel, food, and wellness. She counts down all year long to summertime on the sandbar.