ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The city of St. Petersburg is considering changes to the Pier Marketplace that could replace some vendor tents with permanent kiosks over several years.
The marketplace currently includes seven kiosks and 21 tents for local businesses. The city is considering replacing three tents a year with new kiosks, a process that could continue for seven years.
Aquia Holmes, the owner of Uniquely Handcrafted, has operated her tent at the Pier Marketplace since 2020. She said a kiosk could make day-to-day operations easier.
“The convenience of having a kiosk as opposed to a tent is so high because you don’t have to be doing this every time. You know, back and forth, back and forth,” Holmes said.
Holmes said kiosks could also add security and help protect merchandise from damage.
“My merchandise gets damaged because this is not the best; the tents are not made to be permanent,” Holmes said.
Jennifer Schultz, owner of The Merchant, said she previously operated from a kiosk from 2020 to 2022. She supports moving away from tents, saying kiosks give the marketplace a more professional appearance.
“It looks a lot more professional than a tent that has to be set up, set down, set up, set down,” Schultz said.
However, Schultz said she does not want the city to use the same kiosk design.
“Being in Florida, there were quite a few challenges with the kiosk. They were leaking a lot. Initially, when it rained, you got to close them up and run for cover,” Schultz said.
Holmes said she hopes the city communicates more with vendors before making any changes. She said she still has questions about how kiosks would be assigned.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be on the basis of first-come, first-served because I’ve been here six years. I don’t know if I’m going to be the one who is getting or a new person that is coming,” Holmes said.
The city says each kiosk lasts 20 years.
The Pier Marketplace is open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.