Sunrise Sale draws bargain hunters

By PIPER JONES CASTILLO

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 23, 2000

Mary Jo Thompson of the Straw Goat felt a bit overwhelmed during Wednesday's Sunrise Sale. "It's mayhem in here," she said, as she helped one of the day's 400-plus customers.

"I didn't see daylight until 5 p.m.," reported Bob Serata of Bernie's and Son Jewelers, who is co-president of the Beach Drive and Downtown Business Association that hosted the 26th annual event.

The late John Baldwin of John Baldwin's Fashions conceived the Sunrise Sale, Serata said. Each summer, on a July day, merchants open their doors at 6:43 a.m., offering wares at discount prices.

Although official numbers won't be released until the group's next meeting in August, Serata believes the 2000 event saw a visitor increase of 50 percent over 1999. "I think the larger numbers are due to team efforts in promoting and marketing," he said.

Southern Water Management, 1950 First Ave. N, Suite 223, St. Petersburg, has announced the following resident utility billing contracts: Amelia Village, Clayton, N.C.; North Stone Apartment Community, Raleigh, N.C.; Bayview Shopping Center, St. Petersburg; and Bayfront Villas, Gulfport.

Dr. Jeff Raheb and Dr. Denny Downes have opened Vital Connection, a chiropractic firm, at 1200 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) St. N, St. Petersburg.

- Please send your business news items to Piper Jones Castillo, Neighborhood Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. e-mail: piper@sptimes.com. Phone number: 893-8827.

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