Uniquely Original Art Studio has operated from 915 24th St. S. for nearly 35 years. Photo: Facebook.
Time is running out to help preserve and celebrate local business legacies in St. Petersburg.
The city opened the first round of applications for its burgeoning Legacy Business Program in February. Stakeholders have until 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16, to submit nominations for the inaugural cohort.
Officials will then select eight small businesses – one from each city council district – that have helped shape the city’s identity, economy, and culture for over two decades. The program’s website notes that legacy businesses are “the barbershop that greets you by name, the family-run restaurant that spans generations, the storefront that has quietly witnessed the city’s evolution.”
“Their longevity is no accident – it is earned through commitment, consistency, and deep community connection,” the city said of its longstanding establishments. “The Legacy Business Program exists to recognize that staying power and help ensure it continues.”
Selected businesses will receive a public-facing seal to display; a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the establishment’s enduring impact; signage at the event; and a professionally produced video or photo spread, which the city will then share through its BurgBiz: Legacy Edition publication, website, and social media channels.
Officials previously said that an interactive map on the city’s website would also highlight participants. In addition, awardees can attend events, training sessions, and panel discussions tailored to meet legacy business needs, such as retirement and succession planning, social media marketing and storytelling, access to legal consultation, and lease negotiation support.
In August 2025, economic development specialist Brittany Cagle told city council members that the program was about more than recognition. “It’s about safeguarding our roots – the cultural and economic backbone to our city,” she said.
“Legacy businesses aren’t just our storefronts,” Cagle added. “They are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods.”
Eligibility requires at least 20 years of continuous operation, a primary physical location in St. Petersburg, and an independent owner with no regulatory, financial, or unaddressed code violation issues. Home-based and multi-level marketing businesses do not qualify.
Cagle said comparable legacy business programs found success by focusing on non-monetary, high-value technical support that fostered longevity. She also noted the focus on quality over quantity, as selecting smaller cohorts “ensures deeper community impact.”
City Development Administrator James Corbett will select eight businesses on April 17, according to program documents. The nomination portal will reopen in the fall.
St. Petersburg is home to 4,218 establishments that qualify for the program after surviving economic downturns, soaring living costs, and exponential growth for over two decades.
This unassuming building at 1940 22nd Ave. S. houses a neighborhood market beloved by generations of St. Petersburg residents. Photo: Google Street View.
Here are some African American-owned businesses that could meet the city’s criteria:
- Green’s Bakery and Sandwich Shop: The business opened on the historic 22nd Street South (Deuces) corridor in 1965 and thrived for 37 years until redevelopment forced owner Bernice Green to move to 3065 18th Ave. S.
- Lorene’s Fish House: The takeout restaurant has served fresh seafood in the Deuces Live District for over 30 years. American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded owner Lorene Office a $50,000 “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” last year to help preserve history at 927 22nd St. S.
- Uniquely Original Art Studio: Catherine Weaver has operated Uniquely Original Art Studio at 915 24th St. S. for nearly 35 years. Her grandfather built the building, which initially housed the Original Art Studio, in 1947.
- Lakeview Market: The neighborhood grocer and general store has remained in business for nearly 50 years. Daisy Swinton relocated the market to 1940 22nd Ave. S. after it was displaced from the Historic Gas Plant District.
- Happy Workers: Founded in 1929 at 920 19th St. S., Happy Workers is one of, if not the oldest, childcare organizations in Pinellas County. ‘R Club Child Care, a nonprofit, now operates the center, and it may not qualify.
For more information on program guidelines, visit the website here.
Lorene Office’s (left) fresh seafood restaurant has been a staple in the historic Deuces Live District for over 30 years. Photo: Facebook.
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