Reopen: the St. Pete Way - St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce

As part of the 4R’s framework, in concert with the Florida Chamber of Commerce (Relieve, Reopen, Recover, and Reimagine), the Chamber is leading efforts to strengthen businesses, their employees, and their families by providing immediate relief needs, preparing for safe reopening, putting recovery plans into place, and reimagining a more sustainable and resilient St. Pete.

In addition to continued relief efforts, the Chamber and its partners will now also focus on what information businesses can look to as the state of Florida and the St. Petersburg community enter Phase 1 of reopening, while protecting public health.

For the latest news, public health and business resources, as well as financial and business relief programs stay up to date with our Resource Guide for COVID-19 at stpete.com/prepare.

Reopen the St. Pete Way: Resources & Updates

State of Florida

UPDATE: Monday, May 18

Governor Ron DeSantis announced Florida is moving to “Full Phase One” guidelines beginning Monday, May 18th.

Full Phase One: Infographic | Governor’s Presentation

Starting on Monday, May 18th, the new and expanded regulations include:

Restaurants can offer outdoor seating with 6-foot spacing between tables and indoor seating limited to 50% capacity
Retail stores can operate at 50% of indoor capacity
Museums and libraries can operate at 50% (with local government approval. Check Pinellas County and City of St. Petersburg details below)
Gyms can open with proper social distancing and self-sanitizing of equipment
Elective surgeries can resume
No changes to closures for bars, nightclubs, and theaters
Schools remain distance-learning only
Visits to senior living facilities are still prohibited
Some state parks are open again
Pharmacists may administer COVID-19 tests

See the Executive Orders page for order #2020-123 Executive Order re: Full Phase 1: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery for more details.

NOTE: Please check the City of St. Petersburg Mayor’s Restart page regularly to ensure all local businesses and residents receive the proper information on how to operate your business legally and safely.

Need More Help?
Our Business Resiliency Team will be ready to assist once they receive the county/city orders – we can be reached at www.growsmarter.com/brt if you have any questions on how this will affect your business.

UPDATE: Friday, May 15th at 5:30 pm

Pinellas County and the City of St. Petersburg will not be imposing additional restrictions based on the Governor’s recent announcement. Check back on Monday, May 18 for additional details.

UPDATE: Monday, May 4th

Gov. DeSantis’ “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step Plan” focuses on Florida’s recovery and begins with guiding principles for reopening. In addition to addressing critical health considerations and increased testing, Florida’s initial Phase 1 guidelines support the highest level of practicable business operations while maintaining health and safety. It also identifies key metrics upon which next steps will be based.

Phase 1 – Effective Monday, May 4

Schools remain distance learning
Visits to senior living facilities are prohibited
Elective surgeries can resume
Restaurants: Outdoor seating with 6 feet of space between tables and indoor seating at 25% capacity
No change for bars, gyms and personal services such as hair dressers
Vulnerable individuals should avoid close contact with people outside the home
Everyone should maximize physical distance from others when in public
Avoid socializing in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for physical distancing
Face masks are recommended for face-to-face interactions and where you can’t social distance

The Governor has also released Executive Order 20-112 that further outlines Phase 1 guidelines including responsible individual activity, businesses restricted by previous executive orders, other affected business services and medical procedures.

View FAQs for State of Florida Executive Order 20-112 Phase 1 Recovery.

Pinellas County

UPDATE: Monday, May 18th

State of Florida & Pinellas County Additional Guidance for Phase One Reopening.

All of the following businesses may operate at 50 percent of their authorized
capacity under the Phase 1 reopening, except large spectator sports which may
only operate at 25 percent of capacity. All businesses must adhere to social distancing requirements.

Restaurants and food establishments licensed under F.S. Chapter 500 or
Chapter 509
o The 50% of seating capacity excludes employees
o Outdoor seating unrestricted consistent with local law
o No seating at bar counters where alcohol is served
Breweries
o Per the State Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) guidance, may operate as long as there is a food truck associated with the brewery or the brewery has a restaurant in it, and they have outdoor seating.
Retail Sales
Museums/Libraries
Gyms/fitness center
o Dance studios, yoga, and other fitness classes or similar activities
Personal Services Businesses, such as nail salons, barbershops, hair salons,
cosmetology specialty salons, tattoo services, massage services, and other one-on-one services.
o Appointment only; 15 minutes between appointments
o No group appointments
o Masks must be worn by employees
Professional Sports
o Large spectator sporting events up to 25 percent of capacity
Recreation and Large Venue

The following CAN request to Open: Vacation Rentals
o Pinellas County is currently seeking authorization from the State
of Florida to permit vacation rentals.

View Full Guidelines by clicking here.

Effective April 30, 2020 all pools may reopen and are limited to 50% of that pool’s posted capacity and everyone is directed not to congregate in groups of more than ten people and that people not of the same group must remain six feet apart. Owners and operators must follow the CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of facilities.
Effective April 30, 2020 playgrounds and play equipment located at private child care facilities may reopen while following the Governor’s Executive Order of no more than nine children and one caregiver per classroom, provided that all equipment used by one group of children must be cleaned and sanitized before use by another group of children. Owners and operators must follow the CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of facilities. Public playgrounds remain closed.
Effective May 4, 2020 all Pinellas County public beaches and public beach parking facilities may reopen on May 4 and everyone is directed not to congregate in groups of more than ten people and that people not of the same group must remain six feet apart. Public beach restrooms may be open with enhanced cleaning and sanitation that meet CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfection.
All residents are strongly encouraged to wear face masks per CDC guidance when in places of high foot traffic such as grocery and retail stores.

Learn More

City of St. Petersburg

UPDATE: Monday, May 18

Open to the Public May 18
– Computer access by appointment at Johnson, North and South Community Libraries
– Book returns at Main and Mirror Lake Libraries

Starting June 1
– Curbside delivery by appointment on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM – 5 PM at Main and Mirror Lake Community Libraries

Contact participating libraries to schedule an appointment. CDC guidelines are still in effect: Keep a physical distance of 6 ft. or more from others. Click here to see more details in the Orders and Policies section.

UPDATE: Tuesday, May 13th

Restart St. Pete – Temporary Retail/Restaurant Outdoor Expansion Program

UPDATE: Monday, May 4th

BEACHES WILL OPEN EFFECTIVE MONDAY, MAY 4th: By the order of Pinellas County, St. Petersburg’s beaches will reopen on Monday, May 4. This includes Lassing Beach, Maximo Beach, North Shore Beach, and the St. Petersburg Municipal Beach at Treasure Island.

Please be aware that swimming is not permitted at Lassing Beach.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines are still in effect. Please continue to practice physical distancing of 6 ft. or more and large gatherings are prohibited.

CITY POOLS WILL OPEN EFFECTIVE MONDAY, MAY 4th: The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department will be opening North Shore Aquatic Complex and Walter Fuller Pool.

Learn more about City pool hours and operations.

UPDATE: Thursday, April 30th
Statement from Mayor Rick Kriseman related to April 29, 2020 State of Florida Order:

“Related to restaurants in St. Petersburg, they may prepare to follow the state’s order permitting them to open at 25 percent occupancy indoors and with six foot spacing between tables outdoors beginning on May 4th, 2020. I want to be clear that the state’s order does not require restaurants and retail establishments to open on Monday, it simply permits them to do so if they choose to do so. Retail establishments that were previously closed may also reopen on Monday at 25 percent occupancy. Our current reading of the recent order is that localities cannot expand the governor’s restrictions, only further restrict them, and I will not do that in this instance.

I can assure all restaurateurs and business owners in St. Petersburg that they will have time to prepare if I were to further restrict a state order. It is important that our restaurants and retail establishments have clarity as soon as possible and that there is uniformity whenever possible.”

More City of St. Petersburg info at stpete.org/emergency.

Chamber “Reopen the St. Pete Way” Support

Virtual Town Halls & Events

While we practice social distancing, our Chamber and community partners are still working to bring you opportunities to get connected and stay informed as we navigate our current circumstances. We invite you to stay engaged virtually while we are unable to convene in person.

To view our upcoming events or watch recordings of past events, click here.

Additional Documents & Resources from our Events:

Chamber Pelican Poster: "Open the St. Pete Way"

Let the people of St. Pete know that your restaurant or retail business is “Open the St. Pete Way” with the St. Pete Chamber’s Pelican poster.

Open the St. Pete Way means you have created unique COVID 19 returning guidelines for keeping your customers and employees safe.

We’ll deliver your poster and promote throughout our media channels if you simply send the following info to Montana deKuyper, Membership Services Coordinator, at mdekuyper@stpete.com:

Contact name

Business name

Address

Website address

A PDF of your Open the St. Pete Way Safety Plan or a link to where it appears on your website.

Your email and phone number so we can coordinate delivery

We will post your plan on our website (below), so please keep it customer–friendly. Key items to include are topics like your facility cleaning procedures, the expectations of customer interactions and employee safety, assurance of understanding social distancing requirements, etc.

Click here to learn more

PLEASE NOTE: The St. Pete Chamber is providing this information as a service to our members and the community to highlight businesses with COVID-19 safety guidelines. While we reserve the right to reclaim the poster if a business is not operating in the “St. Pete Way,” we are not responsible for enforcing these their guidelines. Patronizing one of these businesses is an individual decision made at the customer’s sole discretion. We care about your health and theirs. Stay safe

Business Resiliency Team (BRT)

The Business Resiliency Team program is a partnership between Grow Smarter St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Greenhouse, the Greater St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation, and St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. Our Business Resiliency Navigators will:

Establish relationships with you to understand your business needs.
Connect you with information, resources, and volunteer professionals to help your business survive and thrive.
Follow up and provide guidance along the way.

You can get in touch with our team by calling (727) 351-3249 or emailing BRT@growsmarterstpete.com.

More Business Resiliency Team Info:

St. Pete Chamber access: stpete.com/brt
Grow Smarter St. Pete access: growsmarterstpete.com/brt

Give Us 5: Business Resiliency Volunteers

We are looking for Business Resiliency Volunteers; attorneys, accountants, bankers, business consultants, marketers, tech experts, etc. who are willing to provide their time, free of charge, to our business community. If you would like to donate your time, skills, and resources please reach out to brt@growsmarterstpete.com.

Personal Protective Equipment

Pinellas County Emergency Management has provided a vendor list for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) vendors. This list will be updated as the information is received.

As of April 23, 2020: Pinellas County PPE Vendor List