Pictured above: The Social Warehouse co-founders Brittany and Kevin Echemendia (left) and Taylor and Alyssa Gay plan to open the city’s first selfie studio in early October.
Courtesy of St. Pete Rising
By Candice Lovelace
St. Petersburg’s first selfie studio, The Social Warehouse, will make its debut this fall in downtown, bringing an interactive photo and video experience to the city.
The Social Warehouse will be professionally lit and feature “modern designs from local Tampa Bay muralists, edgy backdrops and limitless inspiration for your content wants and needs,” said Alyssa Gay, one of The Social Warehouse’s four co-founders.
The selfie backdrops will change several times throughout the year, including seasonal and holiday-themed scenes.
The four co-founders, Alyssa and Taylor Gay and Brittany and Kevin Echemendia, are passionate about the vibrance of downtown St. Petersburg and its iconic murals.
“We really wanted to be in the heart of downtown St. Pete. There is such vibrance and energy to the community and we’re honored to be part of that. The community is very collaborative and also has an arts-focus,” Gay said.
The first selfie studios, also called selfie museums, opened in New York in 2009 and have since spread all over the world. The experience-based attractions have gained popularity in the United States. Currently, there are three selfie studios in Tampa and one coming soon to Clearwater.
The Social Warehouse plans to open its doors in late September or early October at 237 Second Ave. S.
The Social Warehouse is expected to be open for general admission every day, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors can explore the studio for an hour or become a member for regular selfie sessions and access to special VIP hours throughout the month.
Admission will be $30 per hour and memberships start at $160 per month.
Candice Lovelace is a senior mass communications major at USF St. Petersburg.
