- Jun 24
- 4 min read
In a city constantly evolving with new restaurants and bar concepts, Urban Drinkery has carved out its own lane in St. Petersburg by focusing on something different at 2184 9th Ave South, Suite B in St. Petersburg, two blocks east of the Woodson African American Museum of Florida.
For owner Shundra Allison, known affectionately by many as “Miss Urban Drinkery,” the venue reflects her personality and love for bringing people together.
“Every first Saturday at Urban Drinkery, we bring the house music culture to St. Pete,” Allison said. “The Tampa House Heads come down and create an atmosphere that’s all about good music.”
That commitment to creating an experience rooted in music culture has become one of Urban Drinkery’s defining qualities.
“Our DJs have more than 30 years of experience and have worked with some of the biggest names in music, including DJing for Biggie,” Allison said. “They bring an incredible level of talent and history.”
Sip and reset at Urban Drinkery
The venue’s music-centered events continue throughout the month. Every third Saturday, Urban Drinkery hosts Caribbean Night, transforming the space into an energetic celebration of island culture and sound.
“On the third Saturday of every month, we turn things up with Caribbean Night,” Allison said. “There aren’t many places like this here in St. Pete, but we are big on culture.”
That sense of culture can be felt in every corner of Urban Drinkery. Allison has meticulously curated the brick-and-mortar venue to feel welcoming and intentional.
“Urban Drinkery is the kind of place where you can just sip and reset,” Allison said.
Barista Shaila Rowland is proud of the authenticity and fresh ingredients they use at Urban Drinkery.
"The Urban Drinkery Light Bite Brunch Menu is Farm to Table. The Farm to Table aspect is really an experience, because we cook, prepare, and serve what's in season. A lot of what's grown in the garden is used; our basil is out of the garden, the eggplant, we have an eggplant soup that is 100% from the garden; the mint we use with our juices sometimes; we have peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers," says Rowland.
Born out of the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Urban Drinkery grew from Allison’s personal passion for mixing spirits and creating unique cocktails. What started as experimentation quickly evolved into something much larger for her.
She spent countless hours testing flavors, creating new combinations, and sending drinks to family and friends for feedback. The process became both creative therapy and inspiring during a challenging time.
Taking inspiration from Harlem, New York
Allison approaches Urban Drinkery with the mindset of an artist and host rather than simply a business owner. This is why travel also plays a major role in shaping her vision for the space. Allison frequently visits New York City, typically traveling there twice a year, where she draws inspiration from the city’s food, nightlife, cultural energy, and everything exciting about New York.
From the intimate aesthetics of New York lounges to the community-centered vibe of neighborhood gathering spaces, specifically in Harlem, those influences can be seen throughout Urban Drinkery’s atmosphere.
But despite the outside inspiration, Allison remains focused on creating something specially rooted in St. Petersburg.
Importance of the Deuces Corridor
“Urban Drinkery was among the first venues in St. Petersburg dedicated to creating a consistent house music experience centered on Black house music culture and community.”
Guests like Mike Milner enjoy mingling with their community and feel like Urban Drinkery provides that safe space for them.
"Urban is a great environment, a great experience, a place to be able to network, and have great drinks, good brunch or lunch; overall, a great experience. I've been coming here for five years,” says Milner.
He also emphasizes the importance of supporting black-owned businesses in regard to meeting like-minded people and creatives.
“It's very important to have a Black establishment so you can meet and connect, be able to discuss issues, mingle with your community, and find out what's going on, and connect. Connection is very important," says Milner.
“Being located on the historic Deuces means everything. We’re standing on the shoulders of our people who built this corridor. We want to honor that legacy while helping create the next chapter,” says Allison.
“Miss Urban Drinkery” has developed a place where everyone feels welcome. She hopes to one day establish a distillery and create products that celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of our community.
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