If you’ve still got last-minute holiday shopping ahead of you, may we humbly offer some amazing local small businesses that could use your patronage? It’s been a rough hurricane season for many beloved mom-and-pop stores around Pinellas County. But you can show your support by shopping local—and PSTA can help you get there!
Here’s your definitive list of holiday shopping spots and how PSTA can get you there!
Holiday views out the Jolley Trolley in Sponge Docks, up in Tarpon Springs.
Tarpon Springs
Five Fish on the Docks
The Sponge Exchange | 735 Dodecanese Blvd #1, Tarpon Springs, FL
Five Fish was founded by David and Andrea Gauchman and has been a part of the Tarpon Springs community since 1997. Bought by new ownership in August 2022, current husband and wife owners Gary and Laura Lush also value the same sense of community and carry this into Five Fish today! The couple have their own school of fish including 6 children and 3 grandchildren in their family. Using her background as a former visual merchandiser and territory manager for Pandora, Laura applies her skills and passion for retail to curating a wide selection of luxury gifts, jewelry, and decor. Five Fish continues to cherish our customers and employees.
How to Get There
Take the Jolley Trolley to Stop #8047 at the corner of Dodecanese Blvd and Roosevelt Blvd. Five Fish is just a two-block stroll to the east, in the heart of downtown Sponge Docks!
Moonberry Mercantile
101 W Court St, Tarpon Springs, FL
Nestled in the heart of our community, Moonberry Mercantile and Trading is more than just a store—it's a collective for those who seek wholesome, traditional living. Here, we curate a space where ancestral wisdom meets modern conscious choices. We champion slow-made, old-fashioned practices with a mission to reconnect you to the roots of real, nourishing food and a pure, intentional lifestyle. Our goal is to foster a way of living rooted in wellness, sustainability, and timeless values, enriching your well-being with every visit.
How to Get There
Take the Jolley Trolley, Route 19, or Route 66L to Stop #5637 at the corner of Pinellas Ave S and Court St W. Moonberry Mercantile is right in front of your stop!
A holiday display in downtown Tarpon Springs.
Replay Amusement Museum
119 E Tarpon Ave, Tarpon Springs, FL
Replay Museum is a museum of over 100 pinball games, video games, and other amusements from the past. Leave the coins at home, no quarters are needed to play.
How to Get There
Take Route 66L to stop #5642 near the corner of Pinellas Ave N and Tarpon Ave. Take a left at Tarpon Ave and Replay Museum is just a short walk down the block, on your left side!
The outside of Replay Amusement Museum in downtown Tarpon Springs.
Urban Grounds
Acropolis Meats & Deli | 150 E Tarpon Ave, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Coffee lounge, bakery, and daily eats. The perfect place for coffee on the go, a hangout spot, a sweet treat, or a light bite!
How to Get There
Take Route 66L to stop #8049 near the corner of Safford St and Tarpon Ave. Head south to the intersection and turn right on Tarpon Ave E. Urban Grounds is on the left side of the street, in the same building as Acropolis Meats & Deli!
We recently featured some of these businesses for our Holiday Hops and Shops Series! Click here to watch.
Beaches
Grove Surf Cafe
1309 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach, FL
Grove Surf Cafe is an inviting space for you to meet with friends, grab a bite, and enjoy a fine cup of coffee. Owners Lindsey and Peter Gottschling opened their first retail shop and cafe on St. Pete Beach in 2020 named “Grove Surf + Coffee”. Over the past 4 years, they were surprised to find that the shop quickly rocketed in popularity. With the success of the first location, plans for a second one came quickly. When thinking about expansion, Peter and Lindsey knew they wanted to do it at their “home” beach of Indian rocks. The new location is focussed on an expanded food menu, the addition of local beer and wine, and the same classic grove coffees.
How to Get There
Take the Suncoast Beach Trolley to stop #3791, near the corner of Gulf Blvd and 14th Ave on Indian Rocks Beach. Grove Surf Cafe is just a short stroll south on Gulf Blvd, on your left side.
Nekton Surf Shop
1313 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach, FL
Growing up on the shores of Indian Rocks Beach, the Lopez family name quickly became synonymous with world-class surfers Cory and Shea. Both ingrained their surfing legacy by competing on the WST (World Surfing Tour) while consistently ranking amongst the top 40 surfers around the globe for nearly a decade. With millions of miles of surf travel accumulated under their boards, they decided to celebrate this experience back home. From humble beginnings on IRB to world-class professionals, Nekton Surf Shop is proud to celebrate a family-owned and operated surf legacy. Whether you’re a beach bum, ocean lover, or core surfer, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
How to Get There
Take the Suncoast Beach Trolley to stop #3791, near the corner of Gulf Blvd and 14th Ave on Indian Rocks Beach. Nekton Surf Shop is in the next building from Grove Surf Cafe, just a quick walk south on Gulf Blvd, on your left side.
Pipo N Betty’s Bakery
435 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach, FL
Formerly known as Ready Set Yo, Pipo N Betty’s Bakery is family-owned and operated. We take pride in providing products that are delicious and locally sourced from Tampa Bay businesses. Need your morning cup of coffee? We got you. Need a fresh pastry? We got you. Need a delicious protein shake? We got you. We got a little something for everyone to get you going. Stop by and experience the best coffee shop and bakery on the beach.
How to Get There
Take the Suncoast Beach Trolley to stop #3532, near the intersection of Gulf Blvd and 4th Ave. Pipo N Betty’s Bakery is just a short walk north on Gulf Blvd on the right side of the road!
The Candy Kitchen owners Pam & Bob Hoffman standing in front of their Redington Shores location.
The Candy Kitchen
13711 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL
The original Candy Kitchen opened in 1950. The Candy Kitchen prides itself on making homemade ice cream, fudge, and Italian ice, and selling nostalgic candies from your childhood. Visit us during your next trip to the beach and allow us to satisfy your sweet tooth! Opened in 1950, the Madeira Beach location is the one that started it all. From the lips on the door, to the ever-growing Pez collection, this store has been fun for the whole family for generations. Located a mile north of John's Pass, this tiny candy store has seen many friendly faces. Even with lines out the door at night, people from all over have come to visit this staple of the beaches and make sure to leave their mark by signing the walls. When visiting, don't forget to check out the bathroom which has been covered from floor to ceiling with candy boxes from the ages.
How to Get There
Take the Suncoast Beach Trolley or Route 68 to stop #1806 near Gulf Blvd and 137th Ave Cir. The Candy Kitchen is a quick walk north on Gulf Blvd, on the right side!
We recently featured some of these businesses for our Holiday Hops and Shops Series! Click here to watch.
St. Petersburg
Daydream Shop & Maker Space
2935 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL
A beautiful co-op shop in the heart of downtown St. Pete carrying all handmade, vintage, & locally sourced goods. It’s run by the artists inside it!
How to Get There
You can take the SunRunner to Grand Central or 32nd Street N station, or take the Central Avenue Trolley to stop #1080 at Central Ave and 30th St N. Daydream Shop & Maker Space is on the left side of Central Ave, next to The Nook and Sugar Cream Clay!
A beautiful Good Mood candle outside Daydream Shop & Maker Space.
Craftsman House Gallery & Cafe
2955 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL
A spectacular collection of fine craft. Housed in a historic 1918 bungalow this gallery, café, and working pottery studio is a true destination.
How to Get There
You can take the SunRunner to Grand Central or 32nd Street N station, or take the Central Avenue Trolley to stop #1069 at Central Ave and 30th St S. Craftsman House Gallery & Cafe is right at Central Ave and 30th St S.
Sugar Cream Clay
2939 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL
Sugar Cream Clay is a cozy art studio and boutique in sunny St, Petersburg, specializing in handcrafted ceramic creations. Our space offers a curated selection of unique pottery pieces, all lovingly made in-house. We also provide private pottery wheel classes in an intimate, supportive environment, perfect for both beginners and seasoned artists. Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill or find a one-of-a-kind piece for your home, Sugar Cream Clay is your destination for creativity and connection!
How to Get There
You can take the SunRunner to Grand Central or 32nd Street N station, or take the Central Avenue Trolley to stop #1069 at Central Ave and 30th St S. Sugar Cream Clay is in the same plaza as The Nook and Daydream Shop & Maker Space.
Good Mood Candle Co.
Good Mood Candle Co was born in September 2019 out of a need for clean products in my home. A passion for design. A heart for mental health. And a LOVE of candles! From that I’ve created candles that not only smell really freaking good, but are as clean and safe as they can be made! That means not cutting corners. Each candle has 100% soy wax, sustainably sourced wooden wick, non-toxic fragrance above industry standards, and a look and feel that elevates your home. Good Mood scents are custom blended to encourage the mood that you would like to feel, and tied together with the name of each candle. All of our products are hand-made, hand-poured, and personally designed by me from start to finish in sunny St. Pete, FL. My hope is that you want to use these candles as part of a self-care routine, a beacon of positivity after a long day, or a source comfort and safety in your home.
Daisy and Honey Studios
Hi there! My name is Nia. I am a multidisciplinary artist currently based in St. Petersburg, Florida. I create work that is supposed to fun, positive and carefree.I’ve always loved art and started doing professionally in 2020. My work is inspired by nature, mindfulness, and the human form. Through many different forms of art, I am focused on creating warm, fun, and positive work that inspires people to be the best version of yourself.
Sans Market
1037 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
The vision of Sans Market was to create a store that not only provided eco-friendly alternatives to replace single-use plastics, excess packaging, and toxins but an opportunity to empower and educate. In the age of technology, product branding, and social media we are flooded with both information and (a lot of) misinformation daily. If you are like us, you know it can be hard to know what products and brands to trust. We strive to lessen that burden for you.
We never claim to be experts on every subject when it comes to zero waste. However, you can trust that countless hours are spent researching the products, companies, manufacturing practices and ingredient sourcing of the items we bring into the store. Just like you, we want to be sure the items we use come from companies that share our mission of sustainability, in all forms. We then take it one step further and aim to bring you options that are affordable. If we wouldn’t be willing to pay for an item at a certain price point, then we don’t expect you to either!
How to Get There
You can take the SunRunner to 13th St N or 13th St S stations, or take the Central Avenue Trolley to stop #8018 at Central Ave and 11th St. Sans Market is right in front of the Central Avenue Trolley stop!
AfterBurnt
AfterBurnt began creating wood-burned art and sterling silver jewelry in 2014 in our garage. We started selling locally at pop-up markets and began exploring the concept of traveling and creating art across the country. We then took a big leap and sold our home and traded it for a 16-foot vintage camper we named Murica. We renovated the Murica and hit the road in 2016 with our 2 dogs and our tools. We traveled the US and created art inspired by our adventures along the way. After 2 years of camper life, we planted our roots back where we began in sunny St. Pete Florida. Our creations have evolved over the years and will continue to as we grow and explore new mediums, but they are still made with the same passion and pride as they were in that garage.
Tomobolo Books' colorful storefront in downtown St. Peterburg.
Tombolo Books
2153 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg
Tombolo Books is an independent bookstore dedicated to promoting the value and pleasure of reading throughout St. Petersburg by offering thoughtful inventory curation, extensive literary knowledge, and excellent customer service. Tombolo Books operated as a pop-up in the Tampa Bay region for several years before finding our brick-and-mortar home in the Grand Central District in December 2019. Founder Alsace Walentine was the longtime events director of Malaprop's Bookstore in Asheville, NC before moving to St. Petersburg with her partner and store co-owner Candice Anderson. The bookstore is a cultural intersection and a welcoming space for browsing, writing, and communing. We believe we can build community and strengthen the city by reflecting social and cultural diversity and encouraging the free exchange of ideas. Tombolo Books’ robust author events program enhances St. Petersburg’s literary arts culture.
How to Get There
You can take the SunRunner to the 22nd Street S station—Tombolo Books is right outside the station!
We recently featured some of these businesses for our Holiday Hops and Shops Series! Click here to watch.