By Peter Roos
Corey Avenue, the four-block-long main street in St. Pete Beach, is a curious collection of bars, boutiques, barbers, restaurants, salons, and offices, including City Hall and a law office.
On opposite corners you will find the Post Office for the beach communities and the historic five and dime, now serving as a coastal-themed recycled furniture and fixture store. There are also art galleries, a shoe store, realtors, computer repair, a holistic vet and a pet groomer and, side by side, a soon to be revived historic theatre and long-time chapel and funeral provider, now part of Dignity Memorial.
Directly across the street from these historic venues is another familiar storefront, known since 1965 as the Attic Shoppe thrift store, 316 Corey Ave. Renee and I frequently visit thrift stores when we travel, looking for an item we forgot to pack, an extra suitcase for the return trip, or some heavier clothing we did not think we would need. We have seldom found a more welcoming place than this. Open from 10am-2pm, six days a week, by volunteers from St. Alban’s Church, a few blocks north on Blind Pass Road, the Attic Shoppe, 727-360-5647, welcomes donations and performs an essential service, especially for more budget challenged community members. They sell women’s and men’s clothing, jewelry, housewares and decorative items. Profits are donated directly to community needs such as CASA, St. Giles Food Pantry and the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Donations can be brought to the store during working hours or to the church, where sorting and cleaning of donations are done, and where an annual Christmas sale is held in early November, and a rummage sale in the winter.
Renee and I wondered about the friendly, welcoming attitudes of the workers there, and found it was very common at the church as well.
St. Albans, 330 85th Ave., (stalbansbeach@gmail.com) is an Episcopal Church holding services each Sunday at 10am. They also operate a highly rated Christian preschool for 1-5-year-old children, which currently has openings for youngsters.
There are multiple ways to be active and serve the church. Their Care Team provides care and comfort to members who are in the hospital, confined at home or grieving a loss. These efforts take place through phone calls, visits, and sending cards of support. They also hold a weekly Healing Service on Wednesdays at 11am in the Church. The Property Team helps maintain the large campus with gardening and light repairs.
The church’s watchword these days is “Find Rest for Your Soul.” Omar Reyes has been the spiritual leader at St. Alban’s since 2020. “St. Alban’s is a faith community where diversity is honored and celebrated; acceptance, encouragement and love are given so that all people may explore their journey in faith; and where, through our many gifts, we cultivate a desire to give in thankfulness for all God has given us.
“We are of different ages from different backgrounds and during ‘the season,’ different countries. We are straight, we are gay, we are trans. Some are single, some married, some partnered, some – single again. We are women, men, and children. Some of us live alone, some with others. People who come to St. Alban’s have all kinds of different reasons for choosing to make this a spiritual home – and this is a blessing. So, no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
“Whether you are looking for a spiritual connection and guidance or you are seeking an accepting and welcoming Christian community, come by on Sunday for service at 10am or stop by and talk to our volunteers at the Attic Shoppe Mon.-Sat. 10am-2pm. You can learn more online at www.stalbanstpetebeach.org. If you have questions for a human, email stalbansbeach@gmail.com or call 727-360-8406, Monday-Thursday 9am-2pm. Please let us know you read about us in Paradise News.”
“We know there are relocates from congregations elsewhere who may be looking for a community to be a part of, and we want you to know you are welcome here at St. Albans.”