“An octopus collects shiny objects and stones to build a garden outside its cave.”
Our Story
Octopus Garden is an independent record store and curated gift shop in downtown New Port Richey, Florida, near Tarpon Springs in Pasco County. Founded in 2025 by Julie Jorstad, the shop carries hand-picked vinyl records, artisan jewelry, handcrafted leather goods, candles, and unique gifts.
In January 2025, Julie took her family to Nashville to see Ringo Starr. The whole trip was a birthday gift for her teenage son, who is a massive Beatles fan. Somewhere during the show, Ringo played “Octopus’s Garden”, and Julie couldn’t stop thinking about it afterward.
The story behind the song is that while Ringo was on vacation in Sardinia, a boat captain told him that octopuses wander the ocean floor picking up shiny objects and interesting stones, then carry them back to arrange little gardens outside their caves. Ringo thought that was wonderful and wrote a song about it.
Julie thought it was wonderful too, but it stuck with her for a different reason. She’d been wanting to open a shop for years. Somewhere she could put all the things she loves in one place. She’s been into vinyl her whole life, and she’s the kind of person who can’t walk through a market without filling a bag with one-of-a-kind finds and gifts. When she heard that story about the octopus and its garden, the name just made sense.
“I’d like to be under the sea, in an octopus’s garden in the shade.”
So that’s what Octopus Garden is. A record shop and gift store in New Port Richey, Florida, stocked with the stuff Julie actually wants to own. Vinyl she plays at home. Gifts she’d buy for her best friend. And a bunch of things that just caught her eye and had to come along. Her own little garden, on land, full of shiny things.
Meet Julie
Julie first came to Florida as a little kid. Her family had a vacation place in Tarpon Springs, and they spent a month there every year getting away from Iowa winters. She grew up going back and forth between cold Midwestern winters and long stretches on the Gulf coast.
Years later, when she had her own family, she kept bringing them down. Her kids and husband fell for the area the same way she did. In spring 2024, they finally made the move for good. Julie, her family, and their two dogs packed up and left Iowa for New Port Richey.
Julie will tell you straight up that she’s an enthusiastic shopper. She’s always wanted to run a store where everything on the shelves is something she picked out herself and actually likes. Records she listens to. Gifts she’d want to receive. Stuff that makes her stop and say “oh, that’s good.” After that Nashville trip, the name Octopus Garden clicked and the rest came together quickly.
Come say hi. We’d love to dig through the bins with you.