Post by Melissa

I’ve been running my donut shop in downtown St. Pete for going on 13 years now. For most of that time, I’ve felt proud and even lucky to be part of a community that thrives on small businesses. The downtown area has always been alive with energy, full of locals, tourists, and sports traffic, and most of us shop owners could count on steady streams of people coming through our doors.

But lately, things haven’t been the same. After the big storm we had, we lost the baseball traffic that used to give us a major boost. Anyone who has been in St. Pete knows how much that baseball crowd matters — those games brought thousands of people downtown who’d grab something quick to eat, maybe stop by before or after a game, and that kind of traffic could make or break our week. Without it, we’re left trying to survive on just our usual flow of regulars and weekend tourists.

On top of that, tariffs have shot up so high that it’s really starting to eat away at the bottom line. Running a donut shop, you wouldn’t think about international trade too much, but almost everything in food service these days has some piece of it tied to imports. Ingredients, packaging, equipment — you name it, the costs are climbing. I can’t just raise my prices every time a shipment costs me more. Customers already grumble when a dozen donuts goes up a dollar or two.

Then there’s rent. I swear St. Pete has some of the highest rent I’ve ever seen for a city this size. When I first opened, the rent was tough but manageable, and at least the crowds balanced it out. But now, between the lost baseball fans, the economic slowdown, and rising costs, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep it going. Every month feels like a gamble: do I cover rent, do I cover inventory, or do I try to pay myself something at the end of the day?

The mayor and city officials have talked about doing more for small businesses downtown, but honestly, it doesn’t feel like much has changed. They say they’re working on making it easier for us to survive, but when you’re sitting down with your bills at the end of the month, it sure doesn’t feel like there’s any relief. Promises don’t help when you’re staring at numbers that don’t add up.

So now I’m stuck in this place of asking myself the hardest question I’ve had to face since I opened my shop: Do I close the doors for good? Or do I try to pivot and do something different?

I’ve thought about moving into online and mobile sales — maybe working exclusively through Uber Eats or other delivery platforms. That way, I wouldn’t have to pay sky-high rent just to keep a storefront open. I could operate from a smaller kitchen space, focus on delivery, and maybe still keep my loyal customers happy. But I also know that delivery apps take huge fees, and sometimes you’re left barely breaking even after they take their cut.

Another part of me feels like if I shut down the shop, it’s not just about losing a business — it’s like losing a part of myself. Thirteen years is a long time to pour your heart, soul, and savings into something. The thought of closing those doors, packing up, and walking away just feels like giving up. But at the same time, I don’t want to keep draining myself financially and emotionally if there’s no end in sight.

That’s why I wanted to come here and ask: if there are other business owners out there going through something similar, how are you handling it? Have you had to shut down, or did you find another way to keep your business alive? Did moving online or switching to mobile delivery help, or did it just create new problems?

I’m not afraid of hard work — I’ve been doing it for over a decade — but I also know that no amount of effort can make up for numbers that just don’t work out. At the end of the day, this isn’t just about me. It’s about keeping the spirit of small business alive in downtown St. Pete. If we all start shutting down because rent is too high and costs are impossible, what will be left of the charm that made this city what it is?

If anyone has advice, encouragement, or even just your own story, I’d love to hear it. Sometimes just knowing you’re not the only one fighting this uphill battle makes all the difference.

Thanks for listening,
Melissa