Support and Caring in St. Pete, No Surprise

A not so pleasant surprise for Stellie Bellies, St. Pete’s premier Kiddie & Maternity Resale Boutique, prompted my most recent visit to the place where I believe in the city’s motto and thus planned to Be Prepared to Be Pleasantly Surprised. The unpleasant surprise I found was that a fire in the insurance place next door caused severe smoke and soot damage to Stellie Bellies. Yet as a testament to their positive attitude in the face of disaster, a banner hangs above Stellie Bellies’ open doors proclaiming, Fire Won’t Get Us Down! And the Stellie Bellies’ family and friends have pulled together to exemplify just that. While the interior restorations begin, there’s been an epic sale going on in the parking lot in front of their Fourth Street location. Fair weather and following sales have prevailed and continue to do so, which can only be an omen of good things to come in the next couple of weeks as preparations are made for Stellie Bellies Fourth Street location’s Grand Reopening. The preparations are well underway, with a lot of behind the scenes action occurring simultaneously along with the epic outdoor sale, and two other local businesses have joined the effort. It is times like these when St. Pete truly lives up to its motto and the motto fits. Two local restaurants, California Ciccio’s (they do something remarkably delish with chicken on pizza) and West Shore Pizza (the spinach and tomato sauce-less pizza was my fave) have pledged to provide lunch at no cost for the friends, family, and volunteer workers until Stellie Bellies is ready to rise from the smoke, soot, and ashes anew. It’s refreshing to know there are other fellow business people in St. Pete willing to reach out and provide encouragement and sustenance when others, in this case Stellie Bellies, need it the most. This and the support of a loyal cadre of customers is just a small example of why St. Pete is such a wonderful, caring community. For more updates on their progress connect with Stellie Bellies on Face Book or check them out at www.stelliebellies.com.