St. Pete business giving local artists an opportunity to thrive

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – More than 100 local artists, makers and craftspeople are making a name for themselves thanks to a downtown St. Petersburg store.

The Merchant – Purveyor of Local Goods is a one-stop-shop for Florida-made art and gifts.

The owner, Jennifer Schultz, and her husband have been artists all their lives, but they noticed a void in the local art industry when they moved to St. Pete.

“When we discovered St. Pete, we saw the beautiful artist community that there was, from the art fairs and the markets,” Schultz said. “But what we had seen is that’s the only time we would find them.”

That’s when she set out to create a space for local artists to thrive throughout the year.

The Merchant – Purveyor of Local Goods, located in downtown St. Petersburg.

Schultz said that many of the local artists used to own storefronts in downtown St. Pete, but high rent prices forced them out.

So, without the responsibility of running a store, some of these artists had more time for creativity.

“Many of them realized they just want to do art. They don’t want to have a store where they are paying rent and employees, and they have to be there all the time. That kinda kills their creativity, Schultz said as she posed this question: “How can we be someone where they don’t have to get up on the weekends every weekend and go to markets?”

Since opening, the Merchant has added a bakery and coffee shop named The Crislip Café to the back of the store.

Again, by using local bakers and roasters.

The Merchant – Purveyor of Local Goods, located in downtown St. Petersburg.

You can find The Merchant – Purveyor of Local Goods at 645 Central Ave. in St. Pete. 

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: