Shop local, sustain global.

The St. Pete Indie Market may be one of the biggest monthly attractions in the city. Years ago, the event took place on 7th Street South between 1st Avenue South and Central Avenue with an eclectic mix of vendors. Since its inception, the event has grown into an extravaganza celebrating an innumerable amount of local vendors offering everything from candles and notebooks, to longboards and custom printed shirts.

Over the summer, the Indie Market found a home away from the heat inside the Morean Arts Center. After their stint there, which featured pop-up cafeterias hosted by the area’s most loved local restaurant groups, the market moved to the Burg’s flourishing Edge District on Baum Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets North.

Indie Market partnership forms largest OFB in Tampa Bay.

Market owner Rosey Williams hopes to make more than just an economic impact on the Burg. Williams recently partnered with Thomas Paterek and The Suncoast Surfrider Foundation to become Tampa Bay’s largest Ocean Friendly Business (OFB). This partnership ensures that all vendors over the course of 2017 will operate their businesses without single-use plastics.

Suncoast Surfrider to assist businesses in the eco-friendly transition.

Many market vendors already abide by OFB standards; however, others will need to change their current practices, which poses a potential challenge for their continued involvement. The Suncoast Surfrider Foundation pledges that it will assist vendors and offer resources and support to help every vendor make the transition.

“We’re extremely excited that the St Pete Indie Market has taken the pledge to reduce their environmental impact for hundreds of incredible vendors. This commitment not only speaks to future thinking of the organization, but the understanding of how small steps can lead to a big change, something worthy of celebration,” said Thomas Paterek, the chair of Suncoast Surfrider Foundation.

Indie Market won’t be the only one to adopt these new practices.

The Tampa Indie Flea and Gainesville Flea also have plans to adopt these sustainability measures in the new year. The St. Pete Indie Market hosts a launch party on Jan. 7 to celebrate the new partnership. The event will feature a speech from Mayor Rick Kriseman, eco-product giveaways, 80+ vendors, food, craft beer and a guest DJ. The event will take place at Green Bench Brewing (1133 Baum Avenue North).