St. Pete-Clearwater offers visitors top-rated beaches, a burgeoning arts and cultural scene and a bevy of outdoor activities. But perhaps its most enticing draw is a welcoming community that embraces everyone.
The LGBTQ+ hub of Florida’s Gulf Coast, St. Pete is home to St. Pete Pride, the largest Pride celebration in Florida and one of the largest in the nation, welcoming over 300,000 attendees last year. David Fischer, a local entrepreneur, was drawn to the area for its small-town feel and creative atmosphere, “It has this overtly creative group of individuals that reside here and are encouraged to celebrate their creativity,” he says. “It’s a community that’s tight knit and there’s nothing like it in a big city.”
Fischer’s creativity was certainly sparked. He is the force behind Za’Zood, a redtail store, The Saint, a modern-day speakeasy, and COCKtail, a gay bar that’s been named St. Pete’s best bar since its opening three years ago. Now, the building has become a complete resort focused on the LBGTQ+ community. “We opened The Saint first and it did extremely well and then we opened COCKtail and it did extremely well, so we thought why not own all of the businesses in the building. That’s how we came to own Mari Jean Hotel, a resort with 54 hotel rooms, and a pool and day club called The Wet Spot.” Fischer’s creation is like nothing else in the area. “It was a unique scenario where we could create a boutique hotel environment in a city, coastal town—we are literally in downtown St. Pete right on the main drag, Central Avenue. It was an opportunity to give people what they haven’t had.”
St. Pete’s charm is what makes it so special, and Fischer believes having businesses and establishments owned and operated by locals provides that inviting, small-town feeling, “It leads to such a better curated experience for the visitor that comes to St. Pete. It’s unique; it’s different. We get those words all the time about St. Pete. You can’t find that in a big city.” Giving back is also important to Fischer. He believes community support has aided in his success: “We have the largest Pride in all of Florida and one of the largest Prides in the U.S. You have to have the support of the community to do that.” Next on the agenda, Fischer wants to welcome people during the most beautiful time of year. “This year we’re going to produce, as a property, a winter Pride which St. Pete has never had and work in conjunction with St. Pete Pride and try to have a second Pride in February of 2025.”
Everyone is welcome to celebrate, visit and enjoy St. Pete. Fischer says his establishments being an integral part of the bustling downtown has made them a place where all kinds of people unite and gather. “We get a very mixed environment, so, to me, we’re bringing a safe space to not only the gay community, but a space that can be celebrated by our straight allies as well,” he says. Fischer’s vision was to integrate this kind of space into an already established downtown. “I knew it could work. I knew we could bring a unique environment to people in a little more inclusive way and have it be inside the city.” The city, in turn, has embraced Fischer with open arms and encouraged many other small-business owners to craft an inclusive, welcoming feeling for residents and visitors. Check out a guide to recommended LGBTQ-owned businesses in the area here.
Creating this oasis in the middle of downtown St. Pete has been a labor of love for Fischer, who moved to the area after retiring from his corporate career. He wanted to give back to the LGBTQ+ community in a meaningful way. “My vision of a bar was kind of giving back something that I didn’t have to the LGBTQ+ community,” he says. “In saying, I want a space that’s upscale, that’s built for gay people that celebrates the community and who we are.” Fischer is steadfast in his love for St. Pete and believes there’s truly no other place quite like it: “The cool thing is we have award-winning beaches and museums, and it’s a great arts community and it’s extremely accepting. It’s such an accepting environment for gay people to be here and it’s embraced.”
Let’s shine—plan your Pride getaway at FloridasLargestPride.com
