Thrive
Happy 100th, gas station-turned-bagel shop
The building was home to one of the first gas stations in St. Petersburg.
For Pete’s Bagels owner Steven Peterman and co-founder Erica Gonzalez, repurposing a former Standard Oil station in south St. Petersburg was not just a good business opportunity. It was a way to reflect on the city’s legacy.
The company will officially celebrate the structure’s 100th anniversary Sunday, at 2439 4th Street S., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“It’s a very historic, once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to be stewards of a building that is as old as this one,” Gonzalez explained. “We have a lot of people who love Pete’s, but may have never actually gone to this location before.”
Prior to becoming a Pete’s Bagels drive-thru shop, the asset was home to one of the first gas stations in St. Petersburg. It opened in 1926 and remained in business until 1962.
She added that it required “a lot of money, passion and perseverance” to preserve the structure. The Pete’s Bagels team began operations in the summer of 2025.
Owner Steven Peterman (left) and co-founder Erica Gonzalez opened the first Pete’s Bagels in 2019.
Former St. Petersburg City Council member and real estate developer Robert Blackmon was behind the project. He purchased the site, which is located in the Harbordale neighborhood, in 2019 and began working on rehabilitation efforts. The cost was in a high six figure range.
In May, the project was honored by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation during the organization’s Preserve Florida 2026 conference in St. Petersburg.
“It’s a great example of what preservation can mean to a community,” Blackmon told the Catalyst. “If you don’t have preservation, you could be looking at Anytown U.S.A. The buildings tell the history of our community. I’m glad that we were able to help out just a little bit.”
For the veteran politician, the investment made sense. The deteriorated structure had been vacant for some time.
“I bought the building because I thought it was artificially deflating the moral and basically the values of that neighborhood,” he explained. “When I found out what it was, I thought it needed to be brought back to something that looked period appropriate. We always thought that this could be a cool commercial piece.”
Robert Blackmon
After meeting the team at Pete’s Bagels, Blackmon recognized an opportunity.
“They are very history-focused,” he said. “Their whole vibe is kind of ‘hey, let’s try and preserve the culture of old St. Pete,’ even though a lot of their customers might be new to town.”
Pete’s Bagels had been interested in a drive-thru location for some time, Gonzalez added. The company operates a flagship shop in the Grand Central District as well as other establishments in Ybor City and Tarpon Springs. Additionally, the team oversees a sister concept, Seymour’s, at the Snell Arcade in St. Petersburg.
“I think being able to serve that part of St. Petersburg is also why it’s special to us,” Gonzalez said. “It’s just a completely different area.”
The Sunday celebration will feature a mini market with local artists and vendors. Additionally, there will be a kid’s area with different activities. Preserve the ‘Burg executive director Manny Leto will also give a presentation and discuss the restoration efforts.
“I think any time we can find a way to reuse our historic structures, or frankly older buildings, I think that’s a win for the city,” Leto said. “I think it adds to the character of the city. There’s also a sustainability aspect to it. The material would end up in a landfill when we demolish these buildings. But instead, we are breathing new life into them and they can continue for another 100 years in use and service.”
