Hatteras Island Shopping
There are wonderful stores on Hatteras Island, and if you do want to do some browsing and shopping here, you’ll be pleased with the quality and variety of opportunities.
Hatteras Island shops are all locally owned, which allows for great individual character, and the staff members are always friendly and helpful. If you’re out looking for something frivolous and fun, you’ll happen upon it. Cape Hatteras souvenirs abound, from miniature lighthouses to design-your-own T-shirts to hermit crabs. You’ll also find clothes and the essentials – jewelry, clothing, bathing suits, beach toys, watersports equipment, home decor, gourmet food and incredible artwork by local and national artists. You could easily spend an entire day cruising among Hatteras Island’s shops from Rodanthe to Hatteras Village, though the biggest concentrations of retail stores are in Avon, Buxton and Hatteras Village.
If you’re looking for necessities, you’ll find what you need, whether it’s a get-well card, a good book for the beach, a latch for the screen door or backing for your fly line. One large chain grocery store, a couple of smaller but well-stocked mom-and-pop grocers and several gourmet shops fill the food needs on Cape Hatteras. You’ll find tackle stores in every village, and watersports equipment shops are everywhere.
ABC Store
- N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5532
In North Carolina, all liquor and spirits other than beer and wine are sold at package stores by the name of ABC Stores. The Buxton ABC Store is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They are closed on Sundays. Beer and wine are sold at grocery and convenience stores.
Ace Hardware
- 41934 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
- Avon
- (252) 995-6600
Now in a new and much bigger stand-alone location, Ace Hardware sells everything for the home, garden and yard. Most people know Ace as a traditional hardware store, a place to find tools, paint, hardware and lawn and garden supplies. But you may not know that they also sell deck furniture, cleaning supplies, kitchen items, bathroom accessories, beach good, pet supplies, holiday decorations, fishing tackle, grills, gifts, home accessories, art supplies, Carhartt clothing and much more.
All Decked Out
- 53392 N.C. Highway 12
- Frisco
- (252) 995-4319, (800) 321-2392
All Decked Out offers finely made outdoor furniture, hand-crafted on site, including Adirondack chairs and rockers, loungers, picnic tables, swings and much more. All furniture is made of Atlantic white cedar, which is durable and weathers beautifully. Delivery is available from Corolla to Ocracoke, and they ship if you can’t get it home on your own.
Askins Creek Store
- 42676 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-6283
The southernmost commercial business in Avon, this store sells necessities and fun stuff. Gas and diesel fuel, beer and wine, groceries, snacks, beach items, sunscreen, bait and tackle, ice, beach toys, T-shirts, local interest books, maps, charts, cards, souvenirs, gifts and flags are just some of the things you’ll find here. Askins Creek also has an automatic car wash with undercarriage wash and a manual car wash, and if you buy this service you get $1 off any purchase of $15 or more in the store. Money orders and money wiring services are available, and they sell N.C. Education Lottery tickets and the N.C. Recreational Fishing License.
Austin’s South Island Seafood and Produce
- 23500 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-1352
When you’re cooking in, stop here for fresh local seafood, including fish, crabmeat and shrimp, along with fresh produce.
Avon Surf Shop
- 40136 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-4783
Avon Surf Shop sells Newton Surfboards, which are made by a local shaper Mark Newton in Buxton, plus boards by McTavish and Sharp Eye. They also have a great skate selection and do custom orders for skateboards. You’ll find wetsuits, rash guards, apparel for men, women and children, shoes and flip-flops, handmade jewelry and more. Half of the store is a women’s surf boutique featuring cutting edge surf-inspired fashion. Clothing lines you’ll find include Volcom, RVCA and Jobell, which is a line of one-of-a-kind women’s clothing made from vintage clothing and accessories. Avon Surf Shop is just south of the Dolphin Den in north Avon.
Beach Pharmacy of Avon
- 41934 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
- Avon
- (252) 995-3811
This pharmacy fill prescriptions, plus it offers a variety of over-the-counter medicines, sundries, beach supplies and more.
Beach Pharmacy of Hatteras
- 41934 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2400
This pharmacy fill prescriptions, plus it offers a variety of over-the-counter medicines, sundries, beach supplies and more.
Big Wave Dave’s
- 40618 N.C. Highway 12, next to The Village Grocery
- Avon
- (252) 995-7033
Big Wave Dave’s is an upscale convenience store selling what you’d expect: gas, drinks and snacks, beach stuff, T-shirts and specialty beers and wines. What you don’t expect is Big Wave Dave’s cool theater space where you can catch a movie or live music and enjoy a beer or glass of wine. It’s an intimate theater – only 32 seats – and they show independent, up-and-coming movies that you won’t see at the blockbuster theaters. Stop by or call to get the movie and live music schedule. In the off-season you might catch a televised sporting event in the theater. The theater is also available to rent.
Birthday Suits
- 58848 Marina Way, Hatteras Landing
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2282
In business for more than 25 years on the Outer Banks, Birthday Suits is a favorite for swimwear — in fact, it’s been voted Best on the Beach for swimsuits for eight years in local polls. For kids, there’s everything from swim diapers and toddler suits to board shorts and competition swimwear. Men will find surf trunks, board shorts and briefs from sizes 28 to XX large. For women, there are mix-and-match separates, bra-sized swimwear and long-torso, maternity and mastectomy suits, all in the coolest styles. Birthday Suits carries designer and California surf brands, sun-protective rash guards for kids and adults, clothing and beach-inspired accessories like sunglasses, flip-flops, hats, jewelry and purses. Love the OBX logo? You’ll find all kinds of OBX brand accessories and clothing here.
Blue Pelican Gallery
- 57762 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2244
Inside a restored 1950s Hatteras cottage, Blue Pelican Gallery offers an eclectic mix of artwork, most of it local. Owner/artist Jennifer Johnson is a native Hatteras Islander, and her photography reflects her love of the area. She also creates jewelry, which she sells here as well. Blue Pelican represents other local artists too, and you’ll find surf art, prints, tiles, pottery, ornaments, hard-carved birds, music and much more. Look for this gallery beside Burrus Red & White.
Breeze Thru Avon
- 40374 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-3347
This drive-through beverage store offers drinks and beer of all varieties, and you never have to leave your car to get it. The staff person brings it to you. They sell gas, ice and snacks too.
Burrus Red & White Supermarket
- 57196 Kohler Road and N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2333
Burrus has been serving Hatteras Villagers for more than a century, since 1866! It’s a full-service grocery store with fresh meats, seafood and produce, necessities and specialty products. The people are always friendly here, and it’s open year round.
Buxton Seafood
- 49799 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5085
Come to Buxton Seafood to purchase the freshest food straight from the sea. Fish, clams, shrimp, scallops, oysters, crabs and more are available from this shop, where you can always trust the quality. They also sell grocery items, including sauces, wine, produce, sushi supplies and candles. You’ll find it next to the Cape water tower.
Buxton Village Books
- 47918 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-4240
At this bookstore you get to wander around in a charming old cottage with sloping, creaky floors. The owner, Gee Gee Rosell, has a welcoming smile and great taste in books. Look for cookbooks, local interest books and music, fiction, nonfiction, best sellers, a great selection of Southern fiction, mysteries, field guides, half-price used books, unique greeting cards and note cards, journals and much more. It’s open year round.
Caper’s Light
- 48378 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-6011
This gift shop offers a great variety, so much that you really have to come see it for yourself. You’ll find books, stained glass, flags, jewelry, nautical items, T-shirts, hats, driftwood, Harbor Lights and lots of lighthouses. It’s between the post office and the school.
Conner’s Supermarket
- 47468 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5711
Family owned and operated on Hatteras Island for more than 50 years, Conner’s is a full-service grocery store that caters to locals and visitors. They offer a wide selection of items, from everyday necessities to gourmet treats. There’s a large selection of meats and produce, and the deli counter offers meats, cheeses and hot food specials to take away. They now have a complete organic section as well. Beach items and souvenirs are also available here.
Creative Ballance
- 57353 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2154
Creative Ballance is a full-service salon offering a full range of hair services and products. They also do nails —- manicures, pedicures, gel and acrylic nails, and hand-painted nail art — and skin and facial treatments. They offer spray tanning, wedding packages and makeup services.
Dare Building Supply
- 25691 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 987-2744
This big lumber and construction supply store isn’t just for contractors and builders. They also offer hardware, beach goods, house wares, RV and camping supplies, flags and other items a vacationer might need.
Dare Building Supply
- 47371 Buxton Back Road
- Buxton
- (252) 995-4441
This is Hatteras Island’s only full-service lumber and building supply company. It’s also a hardware store with everything that do-it-yourselfers need. They also have a store in Waves.
Day Dreams Clothing
- 947 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5544
This store is the stylish girl’s dream. Day Dreams combines the best of city chic with the best of island style. You’ll find swimwear for everyone, sundresses, flip-flops and sunglasses as well as designer dresses and separates, jewelry, nice accessories and a great selection of clothes. We love the selection of hats and purses. The sale rack alone is worth devoting some serious time to.
Deep Blue
- 40194 Tuna Terrace Lane, off N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 986-1211
This mega-store sells things you need for the beach—towels, swim suits, body boards, rafts and toys. You’ll also find lots of souvenirs and novelty items.
Diamond Shoals Seafood Market
- 46843 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5521
Diamond Shoals Restaurant has an awesome seafood market where you can pick up locally caught seafood to cook at home yourself or a purchase a fully cooked take-out dinner. Select from shrimp, clams, scallops, inshore and offshore fish, crabs and Diamond Shoals’ well-known homemade crab cakes. If you’re not in the mood to cook, let the market staff cook the seafood for you. They can fry, grill or broil any of the seafood for take-out, and after 5 p.m. they also offer sides to go — hushpuppies, French fries, cole slaw, baked potatoes or mashed potatoes. You’ll find the market in the same building as the restaurant. It’s open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day in the summer. Call for off-season hours.
Dillon’s Corner
- 46792 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5083
This is really two stores in one. Downstairs it’s a tackle shop with bait, tackle, rods and reels, gas, gear, waders, boots, snacks, rod and reel repair, custom-rod building, tide charts and everything else for fishermen. Upstairs it’s a gift shop and gallery with artwork, prints, ceramics, candles, local interest books, novelties, lighthouse figurines, T-shirts and many other gifts and souvenirs. They also have a handy digital photo machine where you can print your photos off your digital camera.
Dirty Dick’s Retail
- 58848 Marina Way, Hatteras Landing
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 480-DICK (3524)
Dirty Dick’s Crab House (the restaurant located at Hatteras Landing) does a brisk business with its T-shirts, boxers, shorts and other merchandise featuring a cast of loony characters and some rather racy slogans. You can find it all here in the retail shop, along with a lot of other gift items.
