co-owner Lauralie bradford poses next to alligator camp’s selection of vhs tapes | st. pete rising

A newly-opened shop in St. Petersburg's Grand Central District is taking a different approach to second-hand retail, stocking its shelves with items sourced directly from local storage units and personal estates rather than thrift stores.

Alligator Camp recently opened at 2937 Central Avenue, located between pottery studio Sugar Cream Clay and artist co-op Daydream Shop.

The space was formerly occupied by The Nook, a tattoo studio and event space that quietly closed its doors earlier this year.

Local couple Lauralie Bradford and Ryan Vargus own the second-hand shop, which sells everything from physical media like VHS tapes, DVDs, vinyl records, and books to vintage decor and art.

Bradford has been selling vintage and homemade jewelry with her brand Shop the Genesis for the past decade, while Vargus and his father have run a business for the past several years where they clear out storage units and personal estates and resell vintage goods.

The couple decided to combine their talents and launch a vintage resale business called Alligator Camp.

For the past three years, they sold vintage clothes and decor at Daydream Shop, a creative co-op retail store owned and operated by local artists.

When the 500-square-foot space next to Daydream Shop became available earlier this year, the couple decided to open their own storefront.

Instead of shopping at local thrift stores and reselling used goods at higher prices, everything sold at Alligator Camp is sourced directly from local storage units and personal estates.

“When we clear out storage units, this stuff gets reclaimed and brought back to life instead of being thrown in the dumpsters,” Bradford said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

Alligator camp sells a variety of vintage decor, art, knickknacks, and more | st. pete rising

“I hope that we can appeal to people who maybe want something a little different in the vintage scene; I’d like to create some sort of swampy wonderland that's ever changing, but isn't rooted in clearing out a store down the street,” she added.

Since all of the storage units that Vargus clears out are located in the greater Tampa Bay area, many of the items that Alligator Camp sells are Florida-themed, including kitschy decor adorned with oranges, dolphins, Disney characters, and, of course, alligators.

Bradford also repurposes pre-owned clothing into merchandise for Alligator Camp.

“Getting to create our own branding and merch is definitely one of my favorite parts of the business; we’re really trying to create something different within the vintage space,” Bradford said. “My dream is to become the sort of St. Pete staple that people bring their kids to for years to come.”

Although the shop has only been open for a few weeks, VHS tapes, DVDs, cassettes, and vinyl records have emerged as early best-sellers. The store also carries a small selection of VHS players and vintage televisions.

Alligator camp is located in between sugar cream clay and daydream shop | st. pete rising

Bradford said she plans to launch a rental service modeled after the now-defunct Blockbuster, allowing customers to rent movies and CDs for a small fee. The idea comes as physical media continues to see a resurgence among younger consumers.

Over the next few months, the owners hope to host markets with neighboring businesses and collaborate with other vintage sellers in St. Pete.

Bradford hopes that the opening of other new businesses in the area, including Lakeland Film Lab and Nightwatch Wine Bar, will help bring additional foot traffic to the area.

Alligator Camp is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.