Catalyst on the Deuces (903 22nd St. S.) will celebrate its first anniversary this June. From June 28 – 30, Catalyst will host weekend-long festivities for all ages: satellite bars and food trucks, virtual reality machines (popular with kids), prize giveaways, and a mass BMX bike ride-out (200-300 bikes) courtesy of St. Pete Critical Mass (a bicycle group committed to creating awareness, respect, community and fun).

I often bike past Catalyst at night, en route home, and the outdoor patio is always packed, music pumping, a jovial, neighborhood vibe, as though Catalyst has been there. Hard to believe it has only been open for a year. 22nd Street was more or less abandoned and dilapidated before that. But the aptly named bar and lounge catalyzed a dormant need: revival.

Catalyst is more than a lounge—it’s a passion project—the dream that 22^nd street returns to its former glory as the unofficial “black Wall Street”. If Catalyst is any indication, that dream is within reach.

Catalyst marks historic turning point for 22nd St.

“We created a place where the middle class can come,” says part-owner Jeffrey Copeland. “A Southside Cheers,” adds Jason Bryant, another part-owner. Many local shakers and movers frequent Catalyst: business owners, political leaders, and activists. Following Jeffrey and Jason’s initiative, new, black-owned businesses started to open on the same block.

The success of Catalyst marks a historic turning point in the revival of 22nd Street, which was already steeped in history. The original bar was purportedly called The George Washington and instrumentally served the community during segregation era St. Pete. The original, wood mantelpiece in the main lounge masks what was once the entrance to the speakeasy.

The owners have kept much of the original design, but have begun expanding the space, a trend that may continue well beyond its walls. I expect further business developments cropping up along 22nd St., and anticipate bearing witness to more success stories like the Catalyst on the Deuces.