There’s a new kid on the block, and what a welcome addition to the neighborhood it is! As of January, Sunday Market St. Pete opened its public venue at the architecturally iconic St. Petersburg High School. Owned and operated by well-established, hyperlocal market producer Tampa Bay Markets, Sunday Market St. Pete is open for public enjoyment every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., come rain or shine.
Location, Location, Location
Located at 2501 Fifth Avenue N in the Historic Kenwood district of St. Pete, the school grounds offer market attendees plenty of conveniences: easy access to the venue, lots of free parking, free admission, free live musical entertainment, clean building-housed restrooms, dog-friendly fun, and an abundance of enticing local artisans and food vendors.
Locally Operated, Locally Sourced
Tampa Bay Markets has a 14-year track record of successfully creating and operating community-focused market events. The organization operates 13 different local markets throughout the Tampa Bay area, with Sunday Market St. Pete being the organization’s newest addition.
“Our focus is local,” says Tampa Bay Markets co-owner Greg Barnhilll. We want to offer what is fresh, green, renewable, handmade, and recyclable. We also created a special farm-to-market program to encourage and provide access for local growers to sell their produce and products to the public.”
Co-owner Tiffany Ferrecchia oversees all operations for Tampa Bay Markets, making sure every aspect of what they do provides a top-notch experience for both vendors and attendees. “We’re always looking for new vendors,” she observes. “We designed Sunday Market St. Pete to be weekly, specifically so our vendors could realize consistent cash flow. In addition, we are thrilled to bring a robust array of high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables along with featured makers and artisans to this historic neighborhood.”
What’s It All About?
Sunday Market St. Pete offers over 75 vendors on a rotating basis. This writer journeyed to the market in mid-February to check it out. My impression? Yowza!
The lineup of food offerings was taste-temptingly impressive: Venezuelan, Korean, French, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Wood-fired Pizza, Indian, and good old American barbecue, to name a few. (Oh, I forgot the British scones.) There were fresh fish dips, Kentucky beer cheese dips, multipurpose bruschetta topping, maple syrups, spices, nuts, and the ever-popular caramel corn.
Did I mention the plants? Cut flowers, herb plants, large garden plants, air plants. You name it: If it was a plant, it was there. The market also boasted local artisans offering their handmade jewelry, cute lawn décor, accessories of all kinds for humans and their four-legged friends, and several unique clothing vendors. (Shopper’s confession: I bought two gorgeous tie-dyed silk pillowcases as a Valentine’s Day present for myself.)
To my mind, the crown jewel of Sunday Market St. Pete is its large produce tent, a veritable feast for the eyes. Tables and tables and stacks and stacks of luscious-looking fruits and vegetables of all kinds. Gazing at the vibrant colors of this produce bounty was a breath-taking experience that made my Sunday Market St. Pete adventure is worthy of my time.
For information, or to become a vendor, visit tampabaymarkets.com or on Facebook and Instagram @sundaymarketstpete.
