The motto in the Grand Central District is “This is where the locals go.” It is bordered by the two distinct and unique neighborhoods of Palmetto Park and Historic Kenwood, whose residents are not only the District’s neighbors but also its collaborators, shaping the artistic and economic growth of the District. The Grand Central District has provided a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community for over two decades and was instrumental in creating one of the largest celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community in the southeastern United States, the St Pete Pride Parade. With more than 80 LGBTQ+ owned and/or managed companies in the District, the area boasts one of the highest concentrations of such businesses in the country.
For the better part of a decade, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay has worked in concert with St. Pete Pride on production and distribution of its event guide, and despite a pandemic that forced an all-out cancellation of Pride last year, CL and St. Pete Pride teamed up again in 2021 for a standalone guide on stands through the month of June. This piece by David Foote, Executive Director of Grand Central District, is pulled from that guide.
The Grand Central District is home to more than 350 locally owned and operated independent businesses, spanning between 16th and 31st Streets and 1st Avenue North, Central Avenue, and 1st Avenue South. It is a designated and accredited Main Street by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a member of the Florida Main Street program. The Grand Central District is the longest-tenured Main Street District in St. Petersburg and recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary.
One of the primary directives of the Main Street program is economic revitalization and repurposing of existing structures, and the Grand Central District has taken this concept to another level. After suffering a drastic economic decline in the 1980s, it has become a thriving community full of interesting shops, arts and craft studios, professional and personal services, health and wellness providers, local breweries, and a variety of restaurants and bars. Long-time businesses have also seen great improvements and are benefiting from the efforts made in the Grand Central District.
Art studios and galleries are visible throughout the Grand Central District. The arts community is woven into the fabric of the District, which is home to several of the impressive building murals that have become part of the St. Petersburg culture. The District is pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly and has electric vehicle chargers, rental bicycles and scooters. It is also easily accessible through the city’s public transportation system. As the city continues to reinvent itself, the District will provide a home, an entrepreneurial enclave, and creative space for interesting people with imaginative ideas and dreams. Whether you want to come for an hour or for a day, the Grand Central District has something for you.
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This article appears in Jun 3-9, 2021.
