Since the very beginning, St. Petersburg has had a pier. In many ways, as St. Pete has grown, its pier has grown with it. From the early days of the Railroad Pier to the infamous Inverted Pyramid Pier, the St. Pete Pier has come in many forms. And now, almost ten years after then-Mayor Bill Foster recommended demolition of the Inverted Pyramid Pier, St. Pete’s next pier is nearing completion.

Pier Construction Progress - October 2019

After multiple delays and an increase in scope, to say the new St. Pete Pier is highly anticipated would be an understatement. Unlike prior iterations, the new pier won’t just have a singular focal point, but instead will activate a large portion of the 26-acre pier district. 

The new pier district will provide activities along its entire 3,065 foot length. Whether it be gazing at public art, fishing off the pier head, running through the splash pad, or enjoying a meal at Teak overlooking the Downtown St Pete skyline, visitors will be able choose their own experience at the new pier, where there will be something for everyone. The hope is that from the moment a visitor steps onto the pier approach until you reach the pier head building, you’ll be immersed with sights, sounds, and experiences. 

Currently, the City is in the process of reconstructing 2nd Avenue North between Beach Drive and Bayshore Drive to create a seamless gateway that will connect Downtown St. Pete to the pier. Upon arriving, one of the first things visitors will see is the new St. Pete Pier Marketplace. 

The Marketplace, located in front of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, will feature kiosk and tent vendors that showcase local products and services. In order to assess demand, The Marketplace is being developed in phases, with more market stalls planned for the future.

In phase one there are a total of 17 spaces available including seven market stalls and ten market tents. Each space is about 100 square feet. Some of the spaces have access to electricity and water while others are more bare bones. These businesses will have short-term leases and may rotate during the course of a year. Plans include a variety of vendors with diverse offerings within the Marketplace at any given time.

Back in June, the City began soliciting applications for vendor spaces at the new Marketplace. And in September they announced they had received over 70 applications! 

Over the past few months, the City has been vetting and combing through the applications. And today, the City has released their vendor selections for phase one. Here is the list of inaugural St. Pete Pier Marketplace vendors:

• Lily Rose Jewelry: locally handmade jewelry

• Craft-Tee: custom t-shirts while you wait

• Planks: Locally made signs featuring area landmarks

• The Merchant: a local collective of St. Pete inspired souvenirs and handcrafted items

• One Community: a collective of various vendors

• Hey Mon Sauces: authentic Caribbean specialty sauces

• Sunshine City Arts: art collective of various handmade items

• Flamed Copper: heat-treated copper jewelry and accessories

• Hats at the Pier: specialty hats

• Flaming Pearl: tie-dyed custom printed apparel and accessories

• Kashien Chanterell: custom clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags from Ghana

• Land of Gaia: wood art/ fashion/home décor from around the world

• Goofy Faces: caricatures

• Ancient Herbal Care: organic, plant-based skincare products

• The Poppery: gourmet specialty popcorn

• McTavish’s Cookie Shack/Highland Shortbread: locally made cookies, Scottish shortbread and scones

• Cashew Brittle: locally made homemade cashew brittle

In selecting vendors, the City wanted to showcase a diverse array of products and services that would complement existing businesses in Downtown St. Pete. In planning the Pier Marketplace, the City consulted with the organizers of the Saturday Morning Market to learn their best practices and to ensure both markets could exist simultaneously. 

Said Mayor Rick Kriseman: "These vendors will offer an exciting variety of local goods and services to the visitors of the St. Pete Pier and help to showcase what makes St. Pete so special. The Pier Marketplace will be as dynamic as the Pier District itself and reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of the Sunshine City.”

The Pier is expected to have its grand opening in Spring 2020. Once complete, the Pier Marketplace will be be open every Friday through Sunday from 10AM to 6PM. These hours could be extended depending on certain events and demand.

For more information about the St. Pete Pier, visit the pier website. To inquire or learn more about being a vendor at the Marketplace, visit the Marketplace website.