Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach, Florida is a shoppers’ paradise! Enjoy the great stores and specialty shops, the wonderful restaurants, art galleries, clothing stores, imaginative gift shops, craft and hobby shopping, beachwear shops, and more. Spend an hour, an afternoon, or make a day of it. It’s all happening on Corey Avenue!
For over six decades, Corey Ave. has thrived at the heart of St. Pete Beach. Visitors come to Corey Avenue from every part of the world, and they return year after year for the friendly service, great sales, and fun atmosphere. The Corey Avenue Business Association sponsors lots of fun events activities year round, such as parades, wine tastings, arts and crafts festivals, and much more!
The idea for Corey Avenue was conceived in 1936 when The Upham Company thought that it could provide an attractive approach to the beaches as well as a desirable business section. It may have seemed impossible at the time, since the place they had in mind was occupied by a swamp and mangroves, but the location of this property made it ideal. The Shell Store is the oldest store currently on Corey Avenue.
A beautiful corridor to the beaches came to fruition a year later. Corey Avenue is the geographic center of the area between the top of Pass-a-Grille at First Avenue and the Welch Causeway at One Hundred Fiftieth Avenue. It is practically impossible for residents to travel either up or down the beach or to St. Petersburg without passing Corey Avenue. Two-thirds of all traffic to the islands passes over Corey Causeway, so the Corey Avenue business district is a natural focal point. All beach bus lines serve the area, and parking is convenient with cross streets for several blocks in each direction.
After slow growth in its earliest years, Corey Avenue is now a thriving business community, known for its eclectic variety of shops and restaurants. Several of its high end art galleries are part of St. Pete’s Second Saturday Art Walk. It is also host to a huge arts and crafts festival in the fall and home to the Corey Sunday Market every Sunday October through May, with live music and up to 70 vendors with organic produce and specialty offerings.
If you love to shop…you’ll love historic Corey Avenue!
Article written for Destination Tampa Bay magazine