August Mae jewelry and lifestyle shop to open in the EDGE District
/August Mae, a new jewelry and lifestyle shop, will open this winter at 907 Central Avenue in the EDGE District | St. Pete Rising
A new jewelry and lifestyle shop is coming to the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete.
August Mae will open at 907 Central Avenue in a 736-square-foot storefront between Fusillo Pasta and Sunshine City Paint. The space previously housed vintage shop Now and Then, which closed in 2021.
The new shop, which hopes to open by the end of the year, will specialize in water- and tarnish-proof, demi-fine jewelry made with 14-karat gold-filled and sterling-silver materials. Demi-fine jewelry uses higher-quality metals while remaining more accessible than fine jewelry.
Customers can also choose from permanent bracelets and necklaces, create their own charm jewelry, or order personalized pieces through August Mae’s in-house engraving service.
Additionally, the shop will carry a curated selection of apparel, accessories, beauty and self-care products, candles, glassware, gifts, and small home items.
“The store is actually going to be more of a lifestyle shop,” owner Cory Lawler said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “I want it to be an experience. You can come in and get custom-fitted jewelry, make jewelry, buy something for whatever you’re looking for, whatever the occasion is.”
A rendering of August Mae’s future storefront at 907 Central Avenue in the EDGE District | August Mae
The interior will feature August Mae’s mauve-and-gold color palette with a contemporary coastal feel.
Lawler, a Buffalo native, moved to Sarasota for a sales and marketing job in 2019 and later relocated to Miami. After three years there, Lawler returned to Buffalo, where she launched her first permanent-jewelry business, Buffalo Permanent Jewelry, in 2023.
She rebranded the business as August Mae and expanded into e-commerce last August.
Earlier this year, Lawler and her boyfriend spent three months in St. Pete as snowbirds while considering a return to Florida.
Soon after arriving, Lawler came across the Central Avenue storefront and began exploring whether it could work as August Mae’s first brick-and-mortar location.
“I’ve been doing really well with pop-ups and my e-commerce store, and I felt ready to take my business to the next level,” Lawler said. “It’s really just an evolution and the next phase of my business.”
Lawler will relocate from Buffalo to St. Pete this month to open August Mae’s first brick-and-mortar storefront in St. Pete.
August Mae specializes in water- and tarnish-proof, demi-fine jewelry made with 14-karat gold-filled and sterling-silver materials | August Mae
“One thing that I really love about St. Pete is that it reminds me so much of Buffalo,” Lawler said. “They’re both small-business oriented, with all the little boutiques and locally owned shops downtown.”
Lawler has also incorporated her life-long love of animals into her business model, often donating a portion of profits to charities and shelters. She hopes to host events with local shelters, rescues, and charities once the shop is open.
August Mae joins a growing group of businesses near the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North and Central Avenue, including Fusillo Pasta, Sunshine City Paint, Bouquet and Bordeaux, and the forthcoming Casa Origen, Southern Luv BBQ, Shaka Shrimp Kitchen, and BankUnited.
Be sure to follow August Mae on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on a grand opening date and latest offerings.
August Mae owner Cory Lawler with Sadie, the shop dog | August Mae
