news A Deuces Renaissance
South St. Petersburg’s 22nd Street Returning to Former Glory By Abby Baker
ABBY BAKER
The Deuces,” named after 22nd Street’s double twos, once saw a decline in arts and culture, but in recent years, the community has started to reclaim the area that frames 22nd Street. For years, the street sat empty of business and life. The crime rate soared, discouraging potential business owners from taking a risk on inexpensive real estate. The Deuces Live, Inc. rose in 2011 as an effort to revive the neighborhood. The organization’s sole goal is reviving the Deuces, a certified Main Street Community. Deuces Lives works to keep its historic corners preserved. It’s still a work in progress, but the once-empty streets now boast 37 businesses, 26 civic organizations, 15 restaurants, and five event spaces. The Deuces Live website has a live counter, serving as a reminder of just how far this South St. Pete neighborhood has come. “Our mission is revitalizing the corChief’s Creole Cafe is the Brayboy’s Cajun eatery, a popular spot that brings visitors ridor while preserving its heritage,” to 22nd Street South. wrote Veatrice Farrell, executive dihas a way to go. Chief’s Creole Cafe as a spot for Cajun rector of the The Deuces Live. “We want this area to be livable, food and homemade sweet tea. But Another draw, the St. Petersburg walkable,” Brayboy told The Gabber. also, they opened the restaurant to Historic Manhattan Casino, now has “We want the residential aspect of bring people into the community. 22 Food Hall South and is the future the neighborhood to be revived, but “No matter what people were sayhome of the expansion of the Dr. Carthat is going to have ing to us, we decided to invest in this ter J. Woodson area,” Brayboy said. “The majority of African Ameri- “This is my village,” Bray- to happen organicalcustomers at Chief’s Creole Cafe are can Museum. boy says. “We accepted ly.” white … years ago, everyone thought The current that our higher calling In 2008, Brayboy and his wife, Carolyn, 22nd Street was a bad area, Black Woodson Muand white.” seum and the was to revive that neigh- began buying land – a mix of commercial Continuing the legacy of her parM a n h a t t a n borhood.” and vacant lots – in ents, the Brayboy’s daughter, RamoCasino sit adSouth St. Petersburg. The couple has na Brayboy, is the face behind the jacent from each other. The muselived most of their lives in the area, Deuces farmers market, Sunshine um’s executive director Terri Lipsey and Brayboy says it was a spiritual Fresh Market. Scott and her team raise funds. Once act, purchasing the abandoned and The market stands on 1335 22nd St. completed, the sprawling future muboarded-up properties. S. and hosts local vendors who sell seum could lock The Deuces in as a More than 40 years ago, Brayboy fresh foods, homemade goods and arts-centric piece of St. Petersburg. recalls a neighborhood full of life and often, local music by Black artists. vitality. It’s another step toward making the Brayboy Buyers “This is my village,” Brayboy says. area a destination spot, says Ramo“We accepted that our higher calling na. One of the biggest devotees of the was to revive that neighborhood.” Discover South St. Petersburg’s reneighborhood, Elihu Brayboy, says In 2014 the Brayboys opened vitalization at deuceslive.org. despite the excitement, the area
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theGabber.com | January 6, 2021 - January 12, 2022
