Our Story

We are an 8th generation Sumter County family and life-long Wildwood residents. My family (The Adams) settled Adamsville, which was named the first Sumter County site in 1853. A large part of Adamsville is now home to many properties of The Villages, most notably The Village of Fenney.

I am Cheyenne Daves, the owner/operator. My husband Israel is the resident handyman and more. From maintenance to cashiering he helps out wherever is needed when he is not working as a construction superintendent in The Villages. Lorelei is our 5 year old, she loves playing with other kids, “helping”, and shopping when she visits the store. We are typically running a two-woman show. I manage the day-to-day and work all aspects of the business. Occasionally you may be served by Lorelei, Israel, one of our staff, or even one of our friends.

We do have closures from time-to-time, usually for family functions, vacations, or illness. If you miss us please return, we would love to serve you!

When you support our business you are supporting our family. We are grateful for every customer, every tip, and every smile we receive. If we have not had the pleasure of meeting you yet, we hope to soon.

-Cheyenne

Mother-Daughter duo Kristina Adams and Cheyenne Daves started Humble-Potamus Children's Boutique in June of 2023. In just a few short months they had expanded from a brick and mortar store into an additional mobile boutique! After Christmas they temporarily closed the brick and mortar location to allow construction for the addition of an in-store Ice Cream shop. Progress came to halt and in February their project still had not been completed. Of course, everything happens for a reason! 

While visiting family in Virginia, Kristina and Cheyenne found themselves drawn to the nostalgia of Amish markets dotted along the countryside. It sparked the reminiscence of Old Florida fruit stands, roadside attractions, local souvenir shops, and the things that make Florida unique.

Within weeks everything had fallen perfectly into place and The Humble Native was born.

Our goal at The Humble Native is to provide a space for locals and tourists alike to come together and enjoy locally sourced products and comfort food. As Florida Natives, we hope to keep Florida's history alive in our community. 

Why a Hippo?

What started as a joke has come to hold significant meaning within our business. Israel (Cheyenne's husband) hated the song “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas”, of course Kristina loved it and taught it to Lorelei, (Israel and Cheyenne's daughter). Kristina took the opportunity to annoy Israel every Christmas by playing the song as much as possible, even buying singing toys for Lorelei and hippo Christmas ornaments. When it came time to name the children’s boutique they struggled. They wanted everyone to feel comfortable shopping there regardless of budget. Humble fit well for this reason. Since the hippo became so popular within the family, Humble Hippo seemed to fit. Thus, Humble-Potamus was born!

Hippos are naturally a humble creature. They spend their days keeping to their herd, however when provoked, hippos are one of the most deadly animals in the world.

When creating The Humble Native it was important to keep our hippo. The goal of The Humble Native is to keep Florida history and charm in Wildwood. We, as 8th generation native Floridians, have had to be humble. We have had to accept the intrusions and changes and when we complain, we are berated for it. Although we are as native to Florida as the oranges, we are treated as if we don’t belong to our own homeland. Sadly, Florida natives have become as foreign as a Hippo to the state of Florida.

So, if you, like us, are a Florida Hippo we look forward to seeing you at The Humble Native very soon!

Help us keep Florida history alive by supporting the over 50 local businesses right here in our store!