Cool decision gives market new life this summer

The Saturday Morning Market is trying a little experiment.

Instead of closing down at the end of May to avoid the long hot days of summer, the 7-year-old market has moved from the Al Lang Field parking lot in downtown St. Petersburg to a spot beneath the shady Mahaffey Theater parking garage.

Vendors and patrons, shielded from the harsh Florida sun and only steps from an air-conditioned bathroom inside the theater, couldn't be happier.

"It's clearly nice, girl!" said artist Derrick Johnson, aka Stankin, who sells his funky sculptures, furniture and clocks at the weekly event. "I think they're gonna have a hard time getting us out of here."

Vince Pompei, who fashions fancy old silverware into clever clocks, wall-hangings and table sculptures, agreed.

"I think they should've come over here a few weeks earlier," he said.

It was the market's third Saturday huddled under the garage, a day when the heat index was at a "feels like" 110 degrees.

"This was the smartest thing they could do," said Evangeline Martin, who relaxed with her daughter and a friend in some handmade cypress Adirondack chairs, courtesy of Bob and Cheryl Bradley, who have been making furniture for more than 30 years.

"It's picking up," Bob said, "but we got more street traffic on Central."

Market-goers probably had a hard time seeing a small sign directing them to the theater, some vendors said. Others heard patrons complain about paying $1 for parking; but the lot is next to the garage - or there's available parking on the first two floors - which makes it easy to haul back finds to the car and stay dry if it rains.

"Summer market over here is the best," concurred Pete Silavutiset, owner of Thai-Rific Orchids Inc. in Gulfport - one of several original vendors since the market opened in 2002.

It will remain under the garage at 400 First St. S. through September, then return to the parking lot next to Al Lang at the corner of First Street and First Avenue South. Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, go to www.saturdaymorningmarket.com or call market director Mark Johnson at (727) 455-4921.