On Thursday, July 20th starting at 6:43 am, the public is invited to attend St. Pete’s largest Pajama Party, offering hundreds of sales, deals, and discounts for shoppers of all ages.
The annual Sunrise Sale is brought to you by the non-profit Downtown Business Association (DBA) of St. Petersburg. This year marks its 50th anniversary, with a goal to have 50 merchants participate.
The participating businesses are located along, and adjacent to, Beach Drive in the downtown core going west through the 600 block and out to the EDGE district, and also along the Fourth Street corridor going North up to 13th Avenue.
For details, please check out the DBA website at stpetedowntownbiz.com.
Head to the EDGE district for the KICK OFF to the 50th Anniversary sale. The traditional “cutting of the cake” is going to be held adjacent to the women’s clothing store called Ashe Couture Boutique at 1027 Central Avenue on the sidewalk across from the gourmet Kalamazoo Olive company at 1008 Central Avenue. A special cake will be served created by SWEET DIVAS CHOCOLATES.
DBA President Jose Martinez lives in the Old Northeast and is also President of Sartorial, Inc. His men’s store is a popular spot as customers come from near and far for the sale.
What will he be offering this year? Bargains? Unique items? “The plan for Sartorial is to have a tent set up outside with a festive vibe of music, drinks, and donuts. From a sale perspective we will have: 70% off racks, 40% off accessories and 25% off the remaining store items. “
Jose and his wife Natalie (also on the event committee) have plenty of past SUNRISE SALE stories to tell. “The most memorable was when we had a sleeper outside the store one year. He was determined to get a one-of-a-kind jacket and at 70% OFF it was indeed quite a steal. Another sweet memory is seeing the ladies in their matching pajamas and enjoying mimosas, sangria and iced coffee.”
Shelli Hemans is the Visitor Center and St. Pete Store manager, working for the Chamber of Commerce for ten years. She has seen seven SUNRISE SALEs. Shelli along with her associate Chris Sabo will welcome visitors early and offer ten per cent off of the merchandise throughout the entire store this year. “We have the work of 99 local artists represented in the store and offer t-shirts, hats, candles, ornaments, even children’s clothes in a niche atmosphere that we call “St. Pete” centric. All items have a St. Pete theme.”
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (DBA)
Founded in 1973, the Downtown Business Association (DBA) is a non-profit membership association representing the arts, retail, restaurants, banking, utilities, city government and other various types of businesses, with a common interest of strengthening the downtown area. They promote downtown St. Petersburg as a vibrant, safe and friendly waterfront environment with outstanding entertainment, cultural attractions, educational facilities, retail, art galleries, medical care resources, architectural design and business opportunities.