Neighborhood News Bureau

Category: BUSINESS

  • Kava bars offer a calm alternative to nightlife in St. Petersburg

    Kava bars offer a calm alternative to nightlife in St. Petersburg

    By Julian Borrmann  

    In recent years, St. Petersburg’s social scene has started to look a 
    little different. Kava bars, which serve a calming drink made from a South Pacific root, are replacing some of the usual party spots. With more than a dozen now open, they’ve become a go-to for people looking for a different kind of night out — and in the process, they’ve helped create a small but growing community of kava lovers. 

    “I’d say the kava culture in St. Pete has evolved from something niche to something central,” said Joshua Hollands, assistant manager at Driftwood Kava and Roastery. “We’ve seen people come in just curious and end up coming back regularly after their first shell.” 

    Kava is made from the root of the piper methysticum plant, native to the South Pacific. For centuries, it has been used in traditional ceremonies in countries such as Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga. 

    The preparation process is simple but unique. The dried root is ground into a fine powder, mixed with water and strained, resulting in an earthy and slightly gritty drink often served in coconut shells. 

    When consumed, kava gives off a calming, slightly numbing effect. It’s this mellow, grounding feeling that has attracted people to it. Especially those looking for alcohol alternatives or a more wellness-focused lifestyle. 

    Katie Muehlek, 25, who has served kava at Driftwood Kava for more than two years, first started drinking it in high school. Since then, it has grown increasingly popular with people of all ages.

    “When I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed, it’s a great way to wind down,” Muehlek said. 

    Outside of her job at Driftwood, Muehlek said she prefers to spend time at Muddy Water Kava, another local kava bar located on the corner of 10th Street N and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Street. 

    “It really has become its own community,” she said. “I get to meet and interact with so many different people, which is meaningful to me because it pushes me out of my social comfort zone without alcohol.” 

    Other bars downtown, such as Grassroots Kava House and Speakeasy, have created similar community-friendly spaces. Many of these bars host open mic nights, board game events, yoga and even fire spinning and flow arts, in addition to serving kava and herbal teas. 

    Local artist Raegan Casper, who doesn’t drink kava herself, said many of her friends have traded traditional bar hangouts for kava bars. 

    “It’s more relaxed here,” Casper said. “You can have real conversations without having to yell over drunk people. There’s no pressure to drink kava, and you still feel welcomed. I love attending the community events, like art night, that many of these bars host.” 

    Though the drink is generally regarded as safe in moderate amounts, questions remain about its long-term health effects. The Florida Department of Agriculture does not regulate kava products, though standards vary and scientific research is still developing. 

    Most kava bars monitor consumption and encourage moderation as the key to enjoying the mood-boosting and relaxing effects it has to offer. 

    “We are completely transparent about the effects of kava with our customers,” Hollands said. “It’s really important that our staff helps keep the space safe for everyone, and we’ve never had any issues in our four years of operation.” 

  • A local company embraces change as Gen Z enters the workforce

    A local company embraces change as Gen Z enters the workforce

    By Mahika Kukday 

    When Nicole Andersen was gearing up to graduate from the University of South Florida last year, she was also picturing her future employer, but the image in her head didn’t look like what it used to for previous generations. 

    At 22, Andersen is part of Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012. As of August 2024, Gen Z made up 18% of the U.S. workforce, according to the Department of Labor, and they’re prioritizing more than just a paycheck. 

    “I feel like there’s a lot more of an expectation in Gen Z for employers that they work for to give back to their communities and step up,” Andersen said. 

    She’s a global sustainability compliance associate at Jabil, a global manufacturing company headquartered in St. Petersburg. The Fortune 500 corporation has been known to be welcoming to young talent, often hiring recent graduates and former interns. 

    Since environmental science and policy was what Andersen earned her bachelor’s degree in at USF, she wanted to work for a company that “believed in their sustainability initiatives and didn’t do them just for show.” 

    Nicole Andersen, 22, graduated from the University of South Florida in Spring 2024 and has since been working at Jabil in St. Petersburg. She was one of the featured speakers at the company’s DQS sustainability leadership conference. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Andersen)

    In her role, Andersen has spoken at international sustainability conferences, contributed to the company’s annual sustainability progress report, and more. 

    She said she feels that people her age value ethics, community involvement and work-life balance more than previous generations. 

    Abdul Muqeet Khawaja is a financial reporting analyst at Jabil, where he converted his internship into a full-time offer like Andersen. 

    One factor that he placed a lot of importance on when deciding where to start his career was “having a team that I can work eight hours of the day, every day, for five days a week.” 

    Khawaja said he feels that previous generations often compromised on work culture, but Gen Z emphasizes the need for a collaborative environment where engaging with colleagues feels “authentic and natural.” 

    He said his generation isn’t buying into the stereotypes of corporate life. 

    “I feel like corporate has the sort of reputation that you just put in all this work, and it doesn’t mean anything,” Andersen said. 

    Jabil Talent Acquisitions Manager Kira Day said that she works with her team to make sure their younger employees know how much they’re valued. 

    “They come to work and they’re always putting their best foot forward,” Day said. “They’re working on assignments even in more efficient ways, I would say, because they’re used to working with different technologies. In this day and age, you’ve got computers and tablets in school.” 

    By conducting recurring one-on-one meetings with her team, Day is able to stay in touch with her young employees’ needs and understand the trajectory they want for their careers. 

    Andersen said she believes this open communication helps her feel recognized for her work, and Khawaja also echoed the need for meaningful assignments. 

    “The important thing for me was not to just be given busy work, but to be thrown in the weeds of the projects,” he said.  

    Khawaja was chosen to lead meetings with stakeholders in Asia, even during his internship, which he said was “really fulfilling.” 

    He came to India as an international student from Pakistan, and he said Jabil’s welcoming attitude and already diverse team made him feel welcome and appreciated. 

    “This is a very individualistic generation in my opinion,” said Dwayne Peterson, USF’s director of industry to campus connections. “They really want to be able to be seen authentically in every space. This is a generation that’s being very unforgiving about that.” 

    Peterson bridges the gap between employers and job-seeking students at USF, and he said, in his experience working with Gen-Z, he’s learnt that they’re much less willing than previous generations to be “one person at work and one person at home.” 

    While Gen Z calls for transparency in everything from salary expectations to internal policy, Peterson said it’s allowed smaller or medium-sized companies that are willing to have that open communication to break into the market. 

    Peterson said that while previous generations often cared more about a company name, those legacy companies with more traditional values are being forced to adapt. 

    According to Forbes, feeling psychologically and physically safe is something that Gen-Z cares more about and are more willing to speak on than previous generations. 

    According to Day, Jabil has been eager to adapt, with the company offering two paid time off mental health days and having wellness centers and gyms onsite. 

    Gen Z has had to navigate the effects of the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, facing an overwhelming economic and technological age, according to Peterson. 

    As they enter the workforce and begin their careers, Peterson said it’s “really a generation that’s starting to press on the way it’s always been done.” 

  • Your Neighborhood Produce aims to provide fresh food at affordable prices

    Your Neighborhood Produce aims to provide fresh food at affordable prices

    By Ailyn Garcia 

    Your Neighborhood Produce is a storefront that sells fresh and affordable produce, helping fund and further the mission of Kelli Casto’s non-profit organization, Saving Our Seniors.  

    Its mission is to fill the gap between Medicare and seniors suffering from financial limitations. 

    “What is the primary goal of this?” Casto said. “To create a wellness hub for anyone in the community to come and buy produce. [And] if you buy produce at our location, you are supporting our greater mission of seniors. We want to create that sense of community like, yes, we’re a produce store, but we’re here for you.” 

    Your Neighborhood Produce, run by volunteers, is located at 132 49th St. S in St. Petersburg. The store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

    “I started helping more families, and I think everybody wants accessibility to fresh produce,” Casto said. “They just sometimes can’t afford it. You know, you go to, like Publix, it’s like $0.83 for a lemon, and it’s like 30 cents here. We can kind of fill that gap.” 

     
    Your Neighborhood Produce accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Fresh Access Bucks- a program that many SNAP users aren’t aware of.

    She said that because the produce is mainly Florida fresh, customers who spend $20 using SNAP assistance at Your Neighborhood Produce will be able to get an additional $20 to purchase more. It encourages those who are on a limited income to eat healthier. 

    Mark Reale, who found out about Casto’s organization, said he loved the concept and immediately wanted to get involved. 

    “Originally, she had started Saving Our Seniors and that’s how I met her all those years ago,” he said. “Then, through Saving Our Seniors, she branched off into the produce, the ProducePac for delivery and then eventually opened her retail store. I’ve been with her through this  entire journey.” 

    Reale said ProducePac is a program where customers can purchase products, and a portion of the proceeds is donated to seniors. Shoppers can also buy for others and have the items delivered. 

    “You get local, and you get the opportunity to help somebody that is in your area,” Reale said. “You know immediately someone’s getting fed.” 

    Kelly Abanda has been shopping at the store since its opening. She said she first saw a post on social media while Casto was preparing the storefront and showed up on opening day to support, and she believes Your Neighborhood Produce’s mission is “incredible.” 

    “Seniors, despite being a big population here in our area, can still be very forgotten,” Abanda said. “And I know it’s near and dear to Kelli’s heart that they’re not forgotten. I love that the store is serving so many needs at the same time. Getting fresh produce into the community, having ease of access at affordable prices and then the extra benefit is that profits that are made go back into getting private food to seniors.” 

    Abanda said Casto is committed to having high-quality produce. She said Casto started to build relationships with all the local wholesalers.

    “It’s not the second batch of everything, like this is the same quality you’ll see in any of the top-name supermarkets at a fraction of the price,” Abanda said. “So, she’s bringing quality and affordability all in a place that’s accessible to the neighborhood.” 

    Casto said she not only wants to provide the community with fresh and affordable produce but also aims to create an inclusive environment. 

    “A lady came in the other day, and she utilized her SNAP benefits, and she said ‘you just made me feel like a normal person,’ and I’m like, well, why wouldn’t I,” Casto said. “We wanted to make an all-inclusive environment, no matter what you’re paying with, you feel as important as the person with the most amount of [money]. You know, we wanted to make it an environment that everybody feels good.” 

  • Hidden coffee shops brew community in St. Petersburg

    Hidden coffee shops brew community in St. Petersburg

    By Christiana Eckard 

    In St. Petersburg, local coffee shops offer a unique blend of community and creativity. While tourists often visit more popular spots along Central Avenue, smaller independent cafes are also drawing attention from those looking for a different experience. 

    The independently owned Patrona Costal Café and Bean Wandering coffee shop aren’t just serving caffeine; they’re embracing small-scale creativity with community connections, according to their owners. 

    Right off the Gandy Bridge, Patrona Coastal Café sits on the edge of the water. This boutique coffee shop features tiki huts, boat views and an ambiance that’s more of a beach getaway than a typical urban café. 

    “Everything we make is in-house,” head barista Grace Kamaraku said. “From the beans that we grind to our own sourcing, it’s really unique. [It’s] kind of like a secret Margaritaville…There is really nothing quite like it here.” 

    While their social media presence has helped attract new visitors, the cafe itself remains something of a local secret. 

    “You would never expect everything that is behind the front sign,” Kamaraku said. 

    Camryn DaSilva, St. Petersburg native, said she never heard of the place until social media. 

    “I found this place through TikTok,” she said. “It came up on my for-you page, but it was so much more than what I could have imagined. I don’t think it gets much better between the boat watching and good coffee.” 

    Despite its picturesque location and growing buzz, Heidi Putnam, who’s been part of the team for six years, said there’s still room to grow. 

    “We could really use the recognition,” Putnam said. “It would be great for business.” 

    Not far from Patrona is the Bean Wandering coffee shop. What started as a modest coffee truck in early 2024 turned into two permanent locations with a small but dedicated customer base. 

    According to locals, Bean Wandering is known for their unique packaging. All coffee is served in cans with a soda lid, setting them apart from competitors.  

    The owners, Hanna and Kara Rewerts, said they set out to create a portable spill-proof coffee experience perfect for busy people. 

    “I started back in April 2024, right when we opened,” manager Madi Landreth said. “It’s been amazing to see how much we’ve grown, from being the coffee truck to having two locations. I’m proud to be part of it.” 

    Like Patrona, Bean Wandering first blew up on Tik Tok, creating a surge of people coming into the cafe.  

    “I love this place,” customer Alexandros Stathas said. “It’s kind of hidden, so I feel like unless you are in the building, you wouldn’t know it’s here. “It’s in the perfect spot. I wish people would expand their horizons and try something new other 
    than Starbucks.” 

    Where there is corporate growth and rising rents, small businesses like Patrona Costal Café and Bean Wandering are threads in the fabric of the city’s economy.  

  • Food trucks revolutionize the local resturant scene

    Food trucks revolutionize the local resturant scene

    By Destiny McDaniel 

    On Saturday evenings, Scott Street in Ybor City fills with parked cars and crowds as diners gather outside a local restaurant, soaking in live music and the glow of fairy lights. Meanwhile, across town, a food truck prepares for the dinner rush alongside others in a bustling lot. From burgers to ice cream, food trucks are revolutionizing the way people eat their meals. 

    Food trucks are becoming more popular and common in Tampa and St. Petersburg, replacing sit-down restaurants as more people opt for truck dining rather than sit-down restaurants. 

    Over the past decade, food trucks have increased in popularity, offering a cheaper and more convenient way for chefs to serve the public.  

    In contrast to traditional restaurants that require a massive upfront of cash, a long-term lease and a full team of employees, food trucks offer a low-cost alternative. Their mobility allows them to serve in several places instead of being tied to one site. 

    Chefs operating food trucks often have greater flexibility to experiment with menus, adapting their offerings to suit each new location.  

    “They’re just as convenient location-wise because they move around much more easily,” said Brie Grant, an expert chef for over a decade in the Tampa-Lakeland area. “But when they run out of food, that’s it—pack up shop.” 

    Food trucks are also beginning to be the preferred choice over restaurants due to the growing annoyance of tipping culture. 

    “When dining out at a restaurant, customers usually must pay 15-20% tip on top of the bill, and that can add up to a meal,” Grant said. “Food trucks have more of a take-it-or-leave-it tipping practice though, so that dining out is not as costly. Food trucks typically serve meals faster than traditional restaurants, too, so food trucks can also be appealing to busy people. But yes, food trucks are a winner in popularity. I did think of getting one myself.” 

    While some see food trucks as a more affordable and efficient alternative to traditional dining, others argue the experiences serve entirely different purposes. 

    “I don’t believe you can compare dining in a food truck versus dining in a fine dining restaurant,” explained Koy Wilson, a Tampa fine dining restaurant manager. “Food trucks are for grab-and-go meals, while fine dining is about being served and relaxing. I don’t think that food rucks are overtaking restaurants, at least not yet. But with the new generation, maybe that will happen.” 

    Food truck culture has been thriving in Tampa, with plenty of festivals celebrating the food truck restaurants. On Feb. 22, the city experienced its annual Tampa Taco Festival at Al Lopez Park, with over 20 food trucks serving all different types of tacos. 

    “Honestly, food trucks just hit differently,” Melda Pajazetovic said. “You really can’t get this type of flavor in a restaurant.” 

    Recent events, such as SoulFest on April 5 — which featured soul food-inspired trucks — and Tampa’s International Food Truck Festival 5.0 on April 12-13, highlighted the growing influence of food trucks on the local culinary scene. Their mobility enables them to efficiently serve large crowds at major gatherings, often making them a more convenient option than traditional restaurant catering.  

    Many festivals and gatherings choose food trucks due to their convenience, quick service and ability to provide diverse menu options on-site. 

    As businesses evolve, food trucks are growing more popular. With their mobility, affordability and versatility, they are revolutionizing the way people eat, one stop at a time. 

  • Local plant nursery rooted in uniqueness

    Local plant nursery rooted in uniqueness

    By Kelsey Foresta Community & Culture Beat Reporter

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Pinellas County is home to many unique businesses and shopping life, and one of the many popular retail types throughout the county are plant businesses and nurseries. With one on almost every corner, a lot of these nurseries are family-owned and operated and have been in business for decades.

    Haynor’s Garden Design, Inc. is a multi-approach plant business located in Pinellas County.

    Located at 1625 Starkey Rd., Haynor’s has called Largo home for over 35 years. Not only are they a plant nursery where they sell plants, pots, and other gardening needs, but they also design landscapes for residential and commercial spaces.

    George Haynor, founder and owner of Haynor’s Garden Design, shared his experience of owning this business for the last couple of decades.

    “The plant industry is usually pretty consistent I have found over my 35 years,” Haynor said.

    Growing up on a farm in upstate New York, he gives his father credit for all he knows about gardening, landscaping, raising animals, and hard work. After working for his father in New York, he moved to Pinellas County, where he opened Haynor’s Garden Design, Inc.

    “I wouldn’t trade it for the world, like me growing up on a farm. I wouldn’t trade that for the world because that made me who I am today,” Haynor said.

    His wife Amy is their office manager, where she does bookkeeping, payroll and scheduling and helps formulate and send out estimates that George makes.

    “They were teenagers and wanted some money,” Haynor said. “I didn’t hand it over to them, they actually had to work for it.”

    Having your children work for your business is not always easy, but George wanted to teach his children a strong work ethic such as the one he learned on the farm from his father.

    Haynor shared some great stories about the past few decades, whether he was working alongside his children or working on a project with his wife.

    Working with family can be difficult at times, but also very rewarding. He described many bonding moments, and how they would get lunch together on work days and share their stories over the dinner table.

    “We have great stories as we sit around the table,” Haynor said. “The stories get bigger and more elaborate as the years go on.”

    He described his children as successful, with children of their own.

    Eventually, his children branched off to other careers of their own, and he is a proud father and grandfather.

    “It also made them who they are today, they exactly understand real work and what it takes,” Haynor said. “And they all have their own yards, and they all take care of them. And they look great.”

    Aside from working with family, he described more in-depth the reality of being a local business owner over the past few decades.

    The labor shortage has hit businesses very hard over the years, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting businesses worldwide. Haynor recalls the challenge he has faced in finding not only workers but skilled workers for his field.

    He needs people who are trained in several different machinery and tools, and who know what they are doing regarding outdoor work. He describes these jobs as not easy, and a lot of damage can be done if you’re not knowledgeable about the tools you’re using and around.

    “It’s essential for any business, especially for small business, because we are dependent on good help. It’s been very difficult in the past before COVID, but COVID really accentuated it because they paid everybody to stay home.” Haynor said.

    His business was recognized as an essential business, and they were able to stay open during the entire pandemic. However, it was hard for his business to get products, as a lot of other businesses faced during and since the pandemic.

    The Covid-19 pandemic caused major product shortages for businesses worldwide. Haynor recalls a struggle in receiving his pottery he orders from overseas.

    A major plus of owning a plant and landscaping business during this period was that everyone was stuck at home, so a lot of people were redoing their yards, starting gardens, and trying to be outdoors in their yards as much as possible.

    “We provided a service in a sense of mental stability,” Haynor said. “When you’re trapped and you’re locked and you can’t go someplace or do something,  to be able to garden and plant plants, for me it is great peace.”

    He began to get emotional recalling how their business has helped so many people during this trying time, and how it helped him personally as well because he loves what he does every day.

    He calls himself a blessed man – whether it is the people he meets every day and helps out or the opportunities his life and his business have created for him.

    “A couple of different things have been really encouraging to me and have blessed me tremendously are two things,” Haynor said. “One, I get to do something I love, but two I get to have an immediate response when I do an install… They look at what I have created for them with their help. I get to bring smiles to people’s faces. I get to change their whole point of view. I get to extend their living area outside. I live and feed off of that.”

    Haynor has always been very passionate about his business and store. He describes his business as a place of community.
  • Local business owners struggle under the weight of booming downtown

    Local business owners struggle under the weight of booming downtown

    By Kelsey Foresta Community Beat Reporter

    Downtown St. Petersburg is the place to be when looking for local businesses to shop or dine, however, a lot of businesses have struggled to join or stay in the area.

    Downtown has been the spot for a variety of local businesses throughout the years and is easily accessible by walking or nearby transit options. Covering roughly 420 acres between the waterfront by The Pier, to Martin Luther King Jr.. Street. N, downtown is home to local restaurants, bars, cafes, museums, shops, and even concert venues.

    “Central Avenue is the spine of downtown, and the neighboring districts all makeup what we know as the downtown area of St. Petersburg,” said Breanne Williams, a Pinellas County real estate and economic development business reporter at the Tampa Bay Business Journal and a Tampa Bay native.

    Downtown is a booming haven for nightlife, retail, restaurants, bars, and more. One of the many benefits of living downtown is the walkability: most places are walking distance from each other, and there are multiple options for public transit and transportation such as rentable scooters and bikes, the Downtown Looper, and the more recent SunRunner bus.

    Another great perk businesses gain when joining the downtown area is saving money on advertising. Because of the heavy foot traffic and constant buzz surrounding the area, walking by so many different businesses lures customers into coming in or remembering the name. 

    However, an interesting real estate market has been established in the Tampa Bay area.

    As more and more people are moving and visiting, rent increases have worried a lot of local business owners, especially those downtown where rent is higher. This year alone, rent has already increased 2.9% for those in St. Petersburg, according to ApartmentList.

    “If the business owns the building, there are really no downsides with being downtown, it’s the rent that is the troublesome part” Williams said.

    An example of a business that owns its building is Grassroots Kava House.

    Sarah Suits, who owns Grassroots with her husband, gave insight into her personal experience and perspective of owning a business residing downtown. Suits and her husband opened Grassroots’ first location on Central Ave in 2017 and rented the building until they were offered an opportunity to buy the building a couple of years later.

    “We put together every penny from our couches…and you know that back in 2019, the market has gone up so much. And so, looking back, it’s like the greatest investment that we could have made.” Suits said.

    Even with the downsides, downtown has been a haven for the arts, with hundreds of murals around, along with a sense of place for locals and tourists as well.

    “Downtown created a sense of community for a lot of businesses, where they became a part of the niche identity of their district, therefore becoming a part of the community,” Williams said.

    Grassroots Kava House is located in the middle of The Edge District on Central Ave.

    One of Suits’ favorite parts of owning a local business is the community and diversity of the people.

    “We’ve got so many entrepreneurs that come in and work all day long here. We have artists, developers, it’s just such a span of people. And it’s incredible that they all come to this space and create this community,” she said.

    Another one of her favorite aspects is the platform local business owners have.

    “It’s very fulfilling for me, to have a platform by Grassroots to support local artists and support local entertainers.” Suits said.

    She mentioned several events Grassroots has hosted where they fundraised money for charities and different nonprofits, such as ‘Come Out St. Pete’, a nonprofit organization helping out different LGBTQ+ communities.

    Businesses in a high-traffic area like downtown don’t struggle with a lack of customers or traction like those who reside in not-as-walkable areas. Especially if the business owns their own building, there really aren’t many downsides for them.

    The local businesses and diverse communities are what make St. Petersburg a unique place to live in and visit. Hopefully, downtown can remain a creative, comfortable space for local communities to get together, shop and eat at, and explore for future generations to enjoy.