St. Petersburg's Saturday Market returns, in a new location

ST. PETERSBURG — If you really want to find the essence of a place, there’s no better way than to taste it. So there was Charleen McGrath on Saturday, standing in a booth full of honey jars and sampling a spoonful of West Central Florida.

A California transplant, this was McGrath’s first trip to St. Petersburg’s Saturday market, which re-opened Saturday in a new spot next to Al Lang Field. And what she did next sums up her take on both the honey and the market.

She stuck out the spoon for seconds.

“Next time I need to bring bags,” said McGrath, who walked to the market from her new home in the Old Northeast.

By all accounts, the market’s move from Central Avenue was a hit.

Roomier. Breezier. Maybe even greener. And thanks to the facilities at Al Lang, better bathrooms to boot.

“Last year you had to use a port-a-let,” said market regular Stephen Zsampar, 83, scrunching up his face.

The market had to move. With 6,000 to 7,000 people every Saturday, the portion of Central between 1st and 2nd street was bursting. You could still get your Amish cinnamon bread, or your heapin’ helpin’ of fish-n-grits, but you had to bump a few shoulders along the way.

“People were on top of each other,” said Helena Josephs, who was serving conch fritters and calypso cake from her stand Saturday.

The new locale means more room for wheelchairs, strollers, bicycles and pets. It will also allow the market to eventually double the number of tables and chairs for those who’d prefer to savor their lemon curd almond cookies instead of eating on the run.

Saturday’s opener had another new feature: a half-dozen “green” vendors, courtesy of a partnership between the market and the Pinellas Green Living Expo. They offered everything from drip irrigation systems to scooters that can get 100 miles per gallon.

“It wasn’t rocket science for us to come up with it,” said market director Mark Johnson. “It’s all about coming to the market ... and living a better life.”

Johnson said regulars will see another change next month: More local farmers.
“That’s one of the impacts of us finally being big enough,” he said. “Farmers say, 'It’s worth my while.’ ’’

-- Ron Matus, Times Staff Writer