There’s no better place to get a taste of the ethos of St. Petersburg than one of its many local markets # whether your pleasure be food, fashion, art, antiques or merely people-watching. As always, The Crow’s Nest is here to help with a guide to the best of the bazaars for all you fledgling market hunters.
Indie Market
Story and photos by Erin Murphy
If you’re a free spirit looking to score some groovy finds, or if you simply want to spend a casual, music-filled afternoon downtown, then the St. Petersburg Indie Market is for you.
The Indie Market, located on the sidewalks of the 600 Block on Central Avenue, brings its independent and artistic atmosphere to St. Petersburg every first Saturday of the month. The market operates from early afternoon to evening.
Vendors offer everything from organic soaps to succulent plants to acupuncture. The booths at the Indie Market feature not only an abundance of vintage clothing and handmade fashions, but also highlight artists and nonprofit organizations.
On the morning of March 1, the sweet scent of cigar smoke wafted through the air as combat boot-clad customers strolled down the alleyway of Central Avenue and Seventh Street S. People pooled at a table run by record store Planet Retro; others searched through strings of baubles and old watches at a table offering old jewelry. In front of a booth, kids grinned and drew with chalk.
Among the intriguing indie finds at the market are clocks and drink coasters made out of old vinyl records. Most jewelry costs $10-20, 
although the rings at one booth sell for only a buck. Clothing prices range from $10 for T-shirts, to $40-50 for vintage threads.
The Indie Market offers a variety of new and old items and most finds are generally inexpensive. And thank goodness, because after a day spent under the white-hot St. Petersburg sun, browsing the booths of merchandise, you’re going to want to grab a frappuccino.
Where: The 600 Block in downtown St. Petersburg
When: First Saturday of the month, noon to 6 p.m.
Cool finds: Vintage moccasin fringe boots; rings made out of typewriter keys
Grand Central Flea
Story and photo by Tyler Killette
Picking through mile-long warehouses at flea markets is exhausting and often leaves you with nothing to show but a musty Afghan throw, a sunburn and a stale churro. Grand Central Flea, however, takes all the good stuff you might gloss over at the monstrosity that is the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park and presents it neatly in a grassy, sunny lot off Central Avenue.
While most vendors sell used knickknacks, clothing and home decor, others offer original creations. G. Lynn Raines of Beautiful Remains, makes beautiful lamps and wall art out of less-than-beautiful pieces.
“I take old things and I turn them into new things,” Raines said.
Born in 1972, she doesn’t use any material younger than she is. The encyclopedia pages she uses as backgrounds to her wall art share her birth year.
Succulent plants, vintage cameras and costume jewelry are typical among other vendors, while things like old crystal doorknobs and plaid blazers are only a bit less common. Some vendors accept credit cards, but we recommend bringing cash. Prices range between garage sale and upscale antique store, so wallets of all sizes will fair.
After sifting through the market’s odds and ends, you might enjoy lunch at one of the Grand Central District’s many eclectic offerings, including old Florida cuisine and BBQ at Beak’s; sandwiches, soups and vegan fare at Community Café; or British pub food with a decadent flair at the Queens Head.
There are also dozens of antique and home goods shops on the block if the market doesn’t quite satisfy your shopping needs.
Where: Central Avenue and 24th Street S.
When: First Saturday of the month, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cool finds: An old trophy awarded to the St. Petersburg Times and Evening Independent; a book of Florida post cards from a family trip in 1966
Saturday Morning Market
Story by Jessica Aldrich, Photos by Mariah Jones
Organic and local vegetables, meat, eggs, cheese, bread, coffee, guacamole, nuts, seeds, plants, kettle corn, ethiopian food, green smoothies, goat milk and yogurt, BBQ, clothing, jewelry, soap, doggy sweaters and more # it can all be found at St. Petersburg’s Saturday Morning Market.
Arriving early to the market, set up in the parking lot next to Al Lang Field, lands you the best buys, before the good stuff runs out. This past week, some of the stands were in different spots than usual, which makes it confusing for the weekly goers like me.
The local organic vegetable stands always have the longest lines, but the wait is worth it. The deals are incredible (I can buy a week’s worth of vegetables for less than $25, and I eat lots of veggies). This is a steal when it comes to organic and local produce. Both seem to be gaining popularity in St. Petersburg.
If planning to do a good chunk of your weekly shopping, it’s wise to bring a decent amount of cash. Most vendors take cash only. However, there is an ATM inside the stadium.
The market serves as a great place to buy gifts or to hang out with friends and enjoy great food, which there’s quite a variety of.
Empanada World, the Taco Lady, Sylvia’s Waffles, Mr. I Got ‘Em # there’s something for everyone. Empanadas will run you about $5 each, while a plate of Huevos Rancheros is about $7, and a small, yet addicting, lemonade is usually $3.
Whether you’re hungry or hungover, the Saturday Morning will induce your food coma with ease.
Parking isn’t too hard to find if you don’t mind walking a bit or paying $5 for the garage. The better the weather, the better the turnout, so go on a cloudy day if you don’t like crowds.
Where: 101 First St. S. (the parking lot near Al Lang Field)
When: Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cool finds: Raw amethyst; mini redwood bonsai trees; salt rock lamps from Pakistan
Brocante Vintage Market
Story and photos by Ryan Ballogg
The garage-like building that houses the Brocante Vintage Market is plain on the outside except for a fringe of black flags, but it’s the treasure trove inside the walls that brings the flocks of shoppers to St. Petersburg’s industrial district on the first weekend of every month.
The name Brocante (pronounced bro-cahnt) comes from a European term that describes a jumbled market of secondhand wares, and that’s just what you will find inside. A poster for the event described the variety as “antique, vintage, salvage, rustic, primitive, mid-century, industrial, cottage and more.” In simpler terms, it could be called “a lot of cool stuff.”
On market days, the continuous foot traffic moves in a somewhat organized fashion through the three large rooms of goods, with pockets of admirers forming around stuffed clothes stands and brightly-painted furniture.
“Brocanteurs” in black shirts swoop about the building helping shoppers, carrying large items to cars and answering questions. Each one has a specialty, and carefully selects a portion of the antiques displayed at the market each month. All of their items are blended cohesively into interesting arrangements on shelves, tables and bookcases.
The market is well worth a visit, with something for just about any taste in vintage. Clothing, books, boxes, paintings and photos, knickknacks and even two different varieties of taxidermy foxes made the display for the March market.
It’s a good place to find something practically useful but interesting to look at, like some engraved shot glasses – fodder for craft projects, like frames and boxes – or something solely to freak out your friends, like an evil vintage Easter bunny.
A general price range of $5 to $40 makes shopping reasonable for even the brokest college lay-about. Some feature items (like unique light fixtures, large furniture pieces and a merry-go-round horse) go into the hundreds and thousands but are cool to look at nonetheless.
Cash and credit are accepted, with separate lines for each, and you can have items held at the counter while you poke around. Food trucks are usually present outside, and 3 Daughters Brewing lies conveniently across the street.
After Sunday, the building will be closed to the public for another 28 days, as the Brocanteurs scour the state for new wares.
Where: 2200 2nd Ave. S.
When: First Saturday and Sunday of every month from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cool Finds: Complete (old and musty) works of Edgar Allen Poe; globes (the spinny kind); commemorative shot glasses
