Gabrielle Watson: Owner of Pour & Decor

ABOUT ME

I was born and raised in St. Petersburg and have lived here my entire life. What I love most is that it feels like a city that’s constantly growing, with new businesses opening all the time while still maintaining an incredible sense of community. It’s the kind of place where you can run into familiar faces almost everywhere you go, and I hope we never lose that.

I’d love to see our community continue to grow while preserving its culture of supporting small businesses. I’d also love to see even more walkability, especially in downtown St. Petersburg. My hope is that people continue to become regulars at their favorite local spots and keep investing in the businesses that make our city feel so unique.

One of my favorite memories growing up was spending time with my mom, grabbing coffee and walking around downtown to shop. Those experiences inspired me to create a place where people could enjoy all of that in one location. Whether you’re sipping coffee in the morning, enjoying a glass of wine or browsing thoughtfully curated gifts and décor, I wanted to create something for everyone.

I’ve always loved retail and design. I worked in local boutiques, where I helped create window displays and style sales floors, and I enjoyed learning about different brands and how to curate beautiful spaces. Later, while working behind the coffee bar at my family’s business, Mazzaro’s Italian Market, I discovered a passion for specialty coffee and authentic Italian espresso. Over time, those two creative interests naturally came together in Pour & Decor.

MY LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 

Not to toot my own horn, but I eat breakfast at Pour & Decor most mornings while I’m working! Since we serve breakfast and lunch every day, I honestly never get tired of the menu or trying new items for future offerings.

Owning a coffee shop means I drink quite a bit of coffee. One of my favorite parts of the job is our staff tasting days, when we experiment with seasonal drinks for the menu. I also love visiting other local cafés and like to joke that I’ve tried just about every coffee shop in the area at least once. Over the years, I’ve developed a taste for dark, robust Italian espresso, so it’s been an absolute pleasure to have Mazzaro’s roast the coffee beans for Pour & Decor.

I love grabbing lunch at Lonni’s Sandwiches in downtown St. Pete. Their Sunny Bird sandwich is my favorite. It’s one of those places that’s been around for generations. My mom used to order the same sandwich when she was young, so it holds a lot of nostalgia for me.

I’ve also really been enjoying ISU in downtown St. Pete. Their fish is incredibly fresh, and they have some really creative rolls. I’ve become more interested in sake since we started hosting monthly sake tastings at Pour & Decor, so I love exploring their sake menu. My interest in sake actually began at in between days, where Noah, their sommelier, has been incredibly helpful in introducing beginners to different styles and flavors.

We’re lucky to have so many great lunch spots around Pour & Decor. I love Casita Taqueria, Twisted Indian and Pin On Grand. I’m also excited that Nah Dogs is opening right next door because I’ve always loved their hot dog cart.

There are so many incredible neighborhood restaurants in St. Pete that deserve more attention. One that stands out is Sauvignon Wine Locker. They have amazing food, an outstanding wine selection, fantastic happy hour specials and a very thoughtful, attentive owner.

When visitors are in town, I always take them downtown to walk along the waterfront and the St. Pete Pier. It’s such a beautiful area, and I love letting people wander into whichever shops, galleries or restaurants catch their attention.

If I were planning the perfect family day around Tampa Bay, I’d probably spend the day exploring Tampa because I love discovering new places. We’d stop at a coffee shop, browse boutiques and bookstores, then finish with a great dinner and dessert somewhere we’ve never been before.

My husband and I love exploring new restaurants, cafés and local events around St. Pete. Since we’re friends with many local business owners, there’s almost always something fun happening. We’d probably check out an event before finally visiting the restaurant or dessert spot we’ve been wanting to try.

These days, I don’t go out to bars nearly as much as I used to, but I still enjoy dancing at Good Night John Boy every once in a while, especially on weeknights before it gets too crowded. We also love visiting the bars in the Grand Central District because we enjoy supporting our neighboring small businesses and prefer the more relaxed atmosphere.

My husband and I also love jazz nights. We often visit In Between Days for live music, and we enjoy the Museum of Fine Arts’ evening jazz events as well.

One of the things I love most about St. Pete is that art is everywhere. We have incredible museums like the Museum of Fine Arts and the Dalí Museum, but I also love supporting local artists and florists. One business that’s especially close to my heart is The Roaming Petal. We’ve partnered on floral workshops at Pour & Decor, and she’s wonderful to work with.

I’m a member of the Museum of Fine Arts and try to attend as many of their evening events as I can. I also love wandering around the city looking for new murals and public art. Another favorite activity is visiting outdoor markets, where I can support local vendors and connect with artists and makers for potential business collaborations.

For workouts, I use ClassPass because I enjoy trying different local gyms and fitness studios. One of my favorites is Beach Town Yoga, which is conveniently located right next to my shop. I can’t wait to try more Pilates classes around downtown as well.

True Floridians know to avoid the midday sun whenever possible! When I do get outside, I love visiting Pass-a-Grille Beach or having a picnic in Vinoy Park. Those are some of my favorite places to slow down and enjoy the outdoors.

The Vinoy and The Don CeSar are both favorite staycation spots. I also love spending a weekend exploring Clearwater Beach.

Honestly, because I work so much, I often enjoy hosting dinner parties at home for special occasions. I love sourcing unique ingredients from local businesses, especially Mazzaro’s, along with flowers from neighborhood florists and décor from local boutiques and vendors. It’s a fun way to support multiple small businesses while creating a memorable experience.

When I’m not working, I love spending time at home with my husband and our dog. I enjoy creating and working on crafts, and when I have extra time, I love shopping at local clothing boutiques like MISRED Outfitters and Poppy Jane. St. Pete has such an incredible small business community, and I love seeing it continue to grow and thrive.

I wish more people understood just how much work goes into running a small business, especially one with so many moving parts. Every customer who walks through the door truly makes a difference. Supporting small businesses isn’t just about buying a product or a cup of coffee. It’s about helping preserve our community’s character and creating third spaces where the staff knows your name. As St. Pete continues to grow, I hope people remember that choosing to shop local is what keeps our city feeling authentic, connected and uniquely ours.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.