A new trendy strip in downtown St. Pete has attracted more shoppers and new businesses in the past year, but the progress has turned painful for some older businesses on Central Avenue.

  • Older businesses getting the boot as Central Ave. becomes trendy strip
  • Landlords not renewing leases with longtime businesses 
  • Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete attracting more shoppers, new businesses

Many business owners, who took the risk years ago to set up shop on Central Avenue, are now getting the boot from their landlords.

They have been waiting years for the crowds to come, and now that the area is trending, some of them are finding themselves out of style.

The owner of El’s Menswear, Badr El-Amin, has seen a lot of changes in fashion and foot traffic over the years.

“I’ve been here 9 years, and I’ve been struggling, but the interest has started growing. December was one of the best months I had last year, since I’ve been down here. And things have been increasing every day,” said El-Amin. “It’s good for me now. Things seem like they are about to happen.”

El-Amin recently received a certified letter saying that his $1,200 a month lease expires October 31st and wont’ be renewed.

“Now they’re trying to pull the rug from up under me. I don’t know why or what the reason is. I’ve been down here 10 years. A good tenant, never missed my rent, always paid on time,” El-Amin said. “He said, but if you want to pay $3,000, I’ll go back to my people and we’ll entertain that thought. You want to pay $3,000 to stay here.”

The property manager also offered El-Amin a space around the corner to relocate his hop at a reduced rate, but so far no agreement has been reached.

The city’s small business liaison said she is aware of the trend and is trying to find a way to balance progress with loyalty to those who took the risk years ago to do business here.

“We’re looking at other cities that have faced similar growing pains, and opportunities, and we’re saying what did they do? Could we learn from that and apply some things in a St. Pete way to our communities,” said Jessica Eilerman, Greenhouse Manager.

El-Amin hopes something can be applied to his problem soon, because he’s not ready to close up shop.

“Oh, I’m going to prevail. I’m going to strive and I’m going to achieve my goal that I do have in life to do,” he said.

El-Amin said even if that goal is something more than the clothing business.