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…