News Summary
Mairs Grocery, a staple in South St. Petersburg for 24 years, is relocating due to demolition of its building for a new community health hub by the St. Pete Free Clinic. Community members express concern over the loss of fresh food options, while city officials explore new grocery initiatives. Mairs Grocery hopes to finalize its move by summer next year, providing continued service during the transition.
St. Petersburg – Mairs Grocery, a well-established grocery store in South St. Petersburg for 24 years, will be relocating due to the impending demolition of its current building. This demolition is part of a broader development plan initiated by the St. Pete Free Clinic, which intends to create a new community health and educational hub in the area.
The St. Pete Free Clinic has acquired the land occupied by Mairs Grocery, along with an adjacent former furniture store on Martin Luther King Street. The new hub aims to provide essential health, nutrition, and educational services primarily in the 33705 zip code, an area showing a significant need for such resources. The clinic has highlighted the heavy utilization of their downtown fresh pantry as a testament to the demand for fresh food and health services in the community.
Local residents have expressed their concerns regarding the grocery store’s closure, emphasizing the need for more fresh food options in the neighborhood. Currently, major grocery stores are scarce in the area, leaving local mom-and-pop shops as the primary sources for groceries. Community member Glen Alexander noted his personal ties to Mairs Grocery, having shopped there since he was 15 years old. The emotional impact of losing such a longstanding local fixture is palpable among patrons and residents alike.
Carla Bristol, a representative for Mairs Grocery, played an instrumental role in facilitating an agreement between the grocery store and the St. Pete Free Clinic regarding the relocation process. The grocery store is currently in discussions to purchase a new building along the same street. This move is expected to ease some immediate financial pressures for the store, as it will benefit from waived rent during the transition, helping them mitigate costs associated with the relocation.
Despite the stress of moving, the transition is viewed as a long-term advantage for the community’s health and well-being. Mairs Grocery aims to finalize the relocation by the summer of next year, ensuring that they remain an accessible food source for residents in the area while the new health hub is developed. During this transitional period, the St. Pete Free Clinic will temporarily act as the landlord for Mairs Grocery, supporting them through the relocation process.
In addition to the efforts to relocate Mairs Grocery, city officials are actively exploring the establishment of municipal grocery stores to address food access challenges in South St. Petersburg. This initiative aims to enhance food availability in under-served areas, complementing existing efforts to foster sustainable grocery solutions.
Another proposal gaining traction is the One Community Grocery Co-op (OCGC), which seeks to develop a community-owned grocery concept to serve local residents. Since its inception in 2017, the co-op has experienced significant membership growth and is currently seeking funding to support its initiatives. Discussions among city council members have acknowledged the challenges faced by similar grocery initiatives across the nation and have highlighted the need for sustainable business models to ensure long-term success.
Community members actively involved in the OCGC have stressed the importance of a robust management framework and public support to navigate the complexities of launching and operating a grocery store. Through these combined efforts, stakeholders in St. Petersburg are working toward improving food access and enhancing the overall well-being of the community.
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Additional Resources
- WTSP News
- Wikipedia: St. Petersburg, Florida
- St. Pete Rising
- Google Search: St. Petersburg grocery stores
- St. Pete Catalyst
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Grocery Store
- Patch
- Google News: St. Pete Food Access
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
