By Haley Chivers
St. Petersburg once had a variety of businesses open throughout the night, giving residents easy access to groceries, food and other necessities at any hour. In recent years, those options have become limited, creating challenges for people who rely on late-night access, especially night-shift workers and residents with nontraditional schedules.
Many major retailers, including Walmart stores across the country, stopped operating 24 hours during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not returned to those hours. An article published in 2024 by journalist Tom Gantert reported that staffing shortages during the pandemic led many businesses to reduce their hours, and many have continued operating on shorter schedules.
Additional reporting shows the shift is not limited to one company. A report published in 2024 by journalist Janet Nguyen found that grocery stores, restaurants, gyms and pharmacies across the country reduced their hours due to rising labor costs, inflation and difficulty finding workers willing to work overnight shifts.
Even at the local level, workers say the change has become permanent.
“During COVID, they stopped being open 24 hours, and they never went back,” said Michelle Lester, a customer service worker at Walmart.
The shift has changed how residents navigate their daily routines, particularly during late hours when fewer options are available. What was once a normal part of daily life, such as running errands or grabbing a meal late at night, has become more difficult.
Grant Fielding, a St. Petersburg resident who prefers being active at night, said the change has limited what he is able to do during those hours. He said he feels more productive at night but has fewer places to go compared to a few years ago.
“I just kind of wish there was more open,” Fielding said.
With fewer places available, Fielding said he is not able to do as much at night and wishes there were more options for food and shopping. He explained that simple activities, like getting something to eat or going into a store, are no longer as accessible as they once were. The lack of late night spaces has made his routine feel more limited.
The impact is even more noticeable for residents who work overnight shifts. Sara Clabaugh, a night shift 911 dispatcher, said the lack of 24-hour businesses has made her routine more difficult and has limited her access to food and other necessities during work hours.
“There’s not as many healthy options to go eat food out during my shift,” Clabaugh said.
Clabaugh said she often has to rely on fast food or bring a meal from home because few places are open late. She said this change has made it harder to maintain a consistent routine during her shifts and has affected her overall daily schedule.
Since she sleeps during the day, Clabaugh said it can also be difficult to complete everyday tasks such as grocery shopping or running errands. She said the reduced hours of local businesses have forced her to plan her schedule more carefully.
“Not as much stuff is open, making things inconvenient for me,” Clabaugh said.
Clabaugh, who is also a parent, said the limited hours have added additional stress when trying to manage responsibilities at home. She said it has become more difficult to get groceries and complete daily tasks efficiently for her family.
Experts say changing consumer habits have also contributed to the decline of 24-hour businesses. As more people work from home or shop online, fewer customers rely on late-night hours, making it less profitable for businesses to stay open overnight.
The reduction in 24-hour businesses may appear to be a small operational change, but it has had a noticeable impact on daily life for many residents in St. Petersburg. For those who work overnight or prefer being active late at night, the loss of these spaces has made everyday tasks less convenient and, in some cases, more stressful.
