Free Clinic relocation jeopardizes food desert’s lone grocer

A popular neighborhood grocer in South St. Petersburg faces demolition as, ironically, a local nonprofit plans to transform the property into a food pantry and social services hub.

Mairs Grocery, which also offers hot meals, has been a vital part of the underserved Harbordale neighborhood for over 24 years. The St. Petersburg Free Clinic (SPFC) is under contract to purchase the store and adjacent Badcock Furniture site at 2200 Dr. MLK Jr. St. S.

The city’s Development Review Commission approved the free clinic’s site plan and special exemption Wednesday after unsuccessfully attempting to discern a mutually beneficial solution. Mairs Grocery’s fate is now in the nonprofit’s hands.

“The property that includes the restaurant is up for sale – somebody else can come in there, buy up everything, level everything and not bat an eye,” said Commissioner Chuck Flynt.

SPFC’s chief executive has batted her eyes. Jennifer Yeagley said her organization doesn’t “bulldoze over partners and businesses.”

Yeagley said she did not realize the community concerns until Wednesday morning. A Change.org petition to “save Mairs Grocer” now has over 2,400 signatures.

While the now-bankrupt Badcock building will remain, SPFC plans to demolish the 73-year-old strip mall housing Mairs to provide 12 additional parking spaces. That would bring the new facility’s total to 49, still well below the 73 required by the city.

“I was under the impression that there had been some communication and more understanding up to this point,” Yeagley said. “I did reach out to the owners this morning; they were gracious enough to meet with me.

“We broadly discussed where we are and our commitment to partnership, but we just really haven’t had the time to flesh out what that looks like.”

Badcock Furniture filed for bankruptcy in July 2024. Image: Google.

Multiple public speakers gave impassioned pleas to save Mairs. All noted its importance to Harbordale.

Angel Torrens, president of the Harbordale Neighborhood Association, said Mairs is the only place offering hot meals in the community. He called the Caribbean-influenced grocer, take-out restaurant and gathering place a “beacon of Black excellence.”

“These guys are still hanging on – throughout all the rough stuff we’ve been through in this neighborhood,” Torrens added. “We spoke with the St. Pete Free Clinic. I think they do beautiful work – our neighborhood also believes that. But it shouldn’t come at the cost of kicking out a staple to our community.”

The 1.25-acre site encompassing 54,625 square feet would become SPFC’s new headquarters. The nonprofit currently operates from 863 3rd Ave. N. in St. Petersburg’s Mirror Lake neighborhood.

Moving to Harbordale would place SPFC closer to the people it serves. The organization provides free primary and specialty healthcare services and medication, operates the area’s largest food bank and two no-cost grocery stores.

Yeagley said a “staggering” number of people rely on SPFC’s services. She led an April 14 community outreach session in Harbordale, and 91% of residents surveyed said they would welcome the organization.

However, stakeholders didn’t realize SPFC’s plans would lead to Mairs’ demise. Yeagley thought the landlord had those discussions with owner Wilburn Marshall. Flynt said commercial real estate deals typically have confidentiality requirements for prospective buyers.

“We’re worsening the issue that the free clinic is trying to solve,” said Commissioner Sarah Jane Vatelot. “We’re removing generational wealth … We’re also worsening a food desert and making people more reliant on the free food … I think there is inherently kind of an irony here that’s a little hard to overlook.”

The St. Petersburg Free Clinic would demolish Mairs Grocery to create 12 additional parking spaces. Image: City documents.

Multiple commissioners asked Yeagley if she would consider pausing the approval process. She said SPFC has about two weeks to complete its due diligence before acquiring the property.

The board agreed that not approving the project would further jeopardize the grocer’s future by opening the door to private developers. Commissioner Darren Stowe noted SPFC must adhere to 11 conditions, including additional landscaping and fencing, and seemed willing to keep Mairs at the site.

Commission Chair Kevin Reali suggested adding a requirement for SPFC to “make good faith efforts to retain” Mairs. Such a mandate is unenforceable.

With their hands tied, commissioners unanimously approved the project and trusted SPFC to explore solutions. They also repeatedly signaled their willingness to approve another parking exception to accommodate Mairs, as the area is close to public transit and many SPFC clients lack vehicles.

“I’m clear where everybody stands on this,” Yeagley said. “We’ve been a good faith community partner in the community for decades, and will do nothing less than continue our commitment to being a good faith community partner.”