Shapiro’s Gallery celebrates 25 years in downtown St. Petersburg

Among downtown St. Petersburg’s fast-changing landscape, Shapiro’s Gallery of Fine American Crafts has been a staple. It is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

To celebrate, on March 25 gallery artists will be onsite, and there will be artist’s trunk shows and a reception at 6 p.m.

Starting out on Central Avenue in 1998, the family business moved to BayWalk in 2002, then to its current location on Beach Drive in 2009.

Mike and Sue Shapiro started the gallery to sell Sue’s ceramics. Their children Matt and Alena grew up around the shop, eventually joining the business.

The gallery sells handmade works in blown glass, jewelry, wall art, metal, yard art, clay, kaleidoscopes and more.

“Handmade in America is more than a catchy slogan,” owner Matt Shapiro said in a news release. “It is our business philosophy and our mission statement. As a business and as a family, we are committed to supporting individual artists, craftspeople and small studios from throughout the United States.”

Matt and Alena also thanked their parents for laying the gallery’s foundation and congratulated them on the milestone, with a wish for at least 25 more years.

If you go

Shapiro’s Gallery of Fine American Crafts. Free. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. March 25. 300 Beach Drive NE. 727-894-2111. shapirosgallery.com.