New St. Pete Thrift Store Funds Marine Conservation, Green Projects

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A new thrift store in St. Petersburg is giving residents another place to hunt for affordable vintage finds while helping fund projects aimed at making the city more environmentally resilient.

Blue Urban Project, a nonprofit founded in 2024, opened its thrift store at 2662 Central Ave. at the end of May and will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, 10 a.m., with a ribbon cutting.

Unlike many secondhand shops, every purchase helps support marine conservation, sustainability research, disaster relief efforts and environmental education across Tampa Bay.

The organization’s co-founder Kirsten Hutchings, a Florida native, served about 10 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division.

After leaving the military, she worked in federal contracting and foreign policy before returning to school, earning degrees in environmental science, political science and sustainable energy.

"We realized we needed a way to sustain ourselves long-term," Kirsten Hutchings, who also serves as executive director, told Patch. "The thrift store allows us to fund our research and community projects while giving people another option to support environmental work."

Hutchings and co-founder Raymond Salden, a U.S. Navy veteran, met while earning graduate degrees at the University of South Florida. Their shared interest in environmental science and sustainable development led them to create Blue Urban Project around the concept of "blue urbanism,” which is designing cities that work with, rather than against, surrounding waterways and natural ecosystems.

Among the nonprofit's initiatives are underwater cleanups that remove and catalog marine debris, environmental education programs, disaster preparedness efforts and policy advocacy for nature-based infrastructure.

One project currently in development would install modular green roofs on select St. Petersburg bus shelters, reducing heat inside the shelters, absorbing stormwater and creating habitats for pollinators. The nonprofit is working with city staff to identify funding for the pilot program.

"We believe there's a way to have a healthy urban environment without damaging the marine ecosystem," Hutchings said.

The thrift store also plays an important role in the organization's disaster response plans.

As a member of the Pinellas County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Blue Urban Project can convert the retail space into a distribution center following hurricanes or other emergencies, providing clothing, household items and other necessities free to residents in need.

The shop also supports veterans through a resource program offering clothing, household goods and connections to services for those rebuilding their lives.

Beyond fundraising, Hutchings hopes the space becomes a neighborhood gathering place.

"We want people to come in and hang out," she said. "You don't have to buy anything. Check out the community board, meet people, learn about what's happening in the neighborhood."

The nonprofit also plans to host workshops on clothing repair, upcycling, home sustainability, aquarium ecosystems and other practical skills designed to reduce waste.

The store carries clothing, books, artwork, furniture, housewares and locally made items. Local artists can also display and sell work through a consignment program, with 80 percent of sales going directly to the artist.

Keeping prices affordable was also intentional, Hutchings said. "We saw thrift store prices going up everywhere. We wanted to make sure people could still shop affordably while supporting a nonprofit."

Blue Urban Project accepts donations of clothing, books, artwork, small furniture, household goods and monetary contributions. Volunteers are also welcome.