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In 1937, the Upham Company took a gamble and purchased the swampy mangrove forest near the terminus of a newly-built causeway that connected Long Key (now known as St. Pete Beach) to the mainland, . Yet the area near the bridge's terminus was swampy and covered in mangroves, and very little development had taken Corey Avenue officially opened on February 13, 1937 when the Upham Company filled the swamp and paved the over the greenery. Since its opening the Upham Company has rented out building spaces to many different businesses, but only one has withstood the test of time: Annabel's Sun and Surf Shop.
Annabel made her name by advertising in local newspapers, holding fashion shows and even joining the chamber of commerce to become better known. Annabel's has been the only store to remain consistently open throughout the history of Corey Avenue. Since 1948, this business has only changed ownership four times. All four of the owners have been women and they have all known one another. A video of modern day Corey Avenue is shown to the left of this.
The most recent owner is Barbara Kurant and has been since the 1980's. She originally worked in the shop as a teenager at the cash register so she was able to move the shop into new times while keeping the same, beloved atmosphere. The store was handed down to her by her mother, Margaret Caven. Caven acquired the shop from a woman named Judy who bought the store from Annabel Carson herself. Barbaras mother, Margeret Caven, who was the previous owner came into the shop and allowed us to interview her, she is seen below.
While the general style of the shop has not changed, the exact garments and brands have updated with the times and cater to a younger generation than ever before, aiding in the boutiques ability to continuously stay relevant. They carry brands that vary from Vera Bradley to Brighton.
Overall, the Corey Avenue business are intertwined in a way that outsiders wouldn't understand. Annabel's appears to be the backbone of the strip because of its history but everyone feels the loss when a location goes out of business. We learned from three of the four store associates and the previous owner, Margaret Caven, that everyone in business on the strip considers each other family. Below the entire interview can be viewed for the full immersion experience.
Link to Interview Transcript
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17HFQsqtoxNMNf03TSzGiJD9crSW6NBZESBCyI5Xd9Q0/edit
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