Downtown will soon be home to St. Pete’s first ‘selfie studio’, a new type of entertainment venue that features a variety of interactive art exhibits specifically designed to snap fun shots of you and your friends.

The first selfie studio opened in New York back in 2009. After much success, the owners franchised the business and expanded all over the world. Today, selfie studios are most popular in parts of Asia, such as Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai. But the movement is also gaining traction in American cities, like Washington DC, Los Angeles, Miami, and now St. Pete.

The Social Warehouse will be housed in a 3,700 square foot space next to Red Mesa Cantina at 237 2nd Avenue South in downtown St. Pete. Customers will pay an hourly fee to have access to the studio’s 11-13 themed walls that will change seasonally. Montana Massa and Joshua Sims of Vector Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord in the deal.

“We immediately fell in love with the location; it really fit our vision of being in the heart of downtown,” said Alyssa Gay, who owns The Social Warehouse with her husband Taylor Gay and their friends Brittany and Kevin Echemendia. “We kept coming back to St. Pete because of the vibrance, how collaborative the city is, the art community. All of those things just really play into our aesthetic.”

The team at The Social Warehouse noticed that some of the most photographed locations in St. Pete are in front of murals. So, in true St. Pete fashion, local muralists will be hired to create art for a few wall scenes.

“We love the murals in St. Pete, but the outdoors isn’t always the best environment for a great photo. It’s hot most of the year, it rains almost every day of the summer, and the lighting isn’t always right,” said Alyssa. “At The Social Warehouse, you won’t need to worry about those things.”

Another wall scene will be a modern-style living room complete with a fireplace and bookshelves. This scene will be decorated based on the season, featuring pumpkins and autumn leaves in the fall, and holiday adornments in the winter.

The owners also want to pay homage to the building’s 97-year history. “We are exploring whether we can break through the plaster on one of the walls to expose the original brick and create a fun 1920’s theme,” said Alyssa.

Theme nights and popups with local businesses are also in the works. On Dog Night, bring your furry friend to The Social Warehouse for an evening filled with professional pup photos.

Although the concept of a selfie studio might sound like it would only appeal to the Gen-Z crowd, Alyssa believes they’ve designed the space to attract a broad audience that also includes business owners.

“We will be very different than the other selfie studios that exist today,” said Alyssa. “The design of our walls and spaces are very elevated. Our aesthetic is similar to the vibe you’d see at Station House, Oxford Exchange, and Hyde House.”

To experience The Social Warehouse, no reservations are needed (for now). Grab a General Admission ticket for $30/hour for adults, $20/hour for kids 3-13 (2 and under are free). If you’re in need of a constant stream of content for your feed, buy an Influencer Membership for $160/month, which includes two 2-hour sessions for up to two people per session. There is also a Business Membership that costs $225/month for three 2-hour sessions for up to three people per session.

Commit to doing something different the next time you need to throw a birthday party, bachelorette party, or a corporate event by renting the entire space for $250/hour. The team at The Social Warehouse will even create a custom wall just for you and your group.

If there was ever a perfect ownership group for a selfie studio, the team behind The Social Warehouse would be it. Alyssa Gay owns a marketing agency, where she has seen the need for regular content from her clients. She’s also learned what type of posts get the most engagement on social media.

Brittany and Kevin Echemendia own Two Stories Media, a St. Pete-based photo and video production company, and will ensure that every wall within the space is professionally lit so you can walk in, have fun, and create elevated content in a creative atmosphere.

“Given what all of us do professionally and seeing the demand from businesses and influencers, we thought we could really bring this concept to life,” said Alyssa. “We believe The Social Warehouse is the perfect addition to downtown St. Pete, which always embraces new ideas and concepts.”

The Social Warehouse hopes to open its door to the public in late September or early October at 237 2nd Avenue South in downtown St. Pete. In the meantime, follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest wall scenes and grand opening plans.