Over 30 local vendors lined the 2400 block of St. Pete’s Grand Central District, stationed in parking lots and sidewalks selling an array of goods – from beer can candles to homemade jam.
A coffee shop that caters to the student schedule of late-night hours, hosted its Grandiversary Block Party on Jan. 16 which supports local businesses, artists and charities.
“I love throwing parties,” said Community Cafe owner Mandy Keyes.
For the last few months, Keyes and her boyfriend Jason Kiger have worked hard to make the event a success. While juggling her duties as the cafe’s manager, Keyes has done the majority of the organizing, from scheduling vendors to creating graphics for the event.
Keyes said she didn’t open her business for the coffee or the cooking. The aspect of her job she loves most is bringing people together.
“I used to throw costume parties to break down people’s barriers and become friends,” she said. “I still joke that I started Community for the parties.”
Many local businesses were out talking to people and selling their products.
USF St. Petersburg student Jamie Doerschuck, founder of BurgBox, was at the event showing off this month’s edition of her delivery subscription package. She was happy to tell people about her product and support the local businesses.
“It’s important for people to support the businesses here, without Community Cafe and shops like it, we wouldn’t be St. Pete. We’d just be some ‘Anytown, USA.’ Small business give us our identity,” Doerschuck said.
Pinellas Chocolate Company was out at the event for the second year in a row. Brothers Addam and Cody Vessa were giving out samples and selling their locally crafted dark chocolate. Cody, a business student at USFSP, believes that promoting local business can make a change for the better.
“It is nice when money you spend goes back to the community, but small businesses are more than just taxable entities. They represent someone’s dreams, and when you choose to support that, you are helping to bring their vision to reality,” Vessa said. “As more small businesses form and thrive, the diversity of our area grows and it continues to become a better place to live.”
Opening a business is difficult, whether the product is coffee, chocolate or delivery boxes, and it’s important to culminate a network and community of people.
Keyes has been in business for two years, and she hopes many more will come. Looking ahead, she says it is important for students to be prepared if they want to have a business of their own.
“You have to make a business plan, we spent two years working on ours, and it’s still been difficult,” she said. “Expect your business to take over your life.”
