Duckweed Urban Grocery debuted today at 1670 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District | St. Pete Rising

Downtown St. Pete has a new neighborhood grocery store offering everyday essentials and conveniences, with a focus on locally sourced products and organic options.

Duckweed Urban Grocery quietly opened its first St. Pete location Friday morning on the ground floor of the Tru by Hilton hotel at 1670 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

The Tampa-based grocery store has become known for its curated selection of products that cater to a variety of diets—including vegan and keto.

“The Duckweed team has spent the last several months curating the St. Pete space to ensure it's a safe and inviting place to shop for everyday essentials as well as fun and unique products that aren't typically carried in chain retailers,” the Duckweed team said.

The store has become known for its curated selection of products that cater to a variety of diets—including vegan and keto | St Pete Rising

Inside the 2,200-square-foot grocery store, shelves are stocked with canned and jarred goods, pasta, baking supplies, snacks, sweets, and more.

Shoppers will also find household essentials and personal care items, along with fresh produce and locally sourced products like honey from Queen and Colony Bee Company and coffee beans from Bandit Coffee Co.

The freezers are stocked with a wide variety of beverages, including sodas, hard seltzers, THC-infused drinks, and craft beers from popular Tampa Bay breweries such as 3 Daughters Brewing, Coppertail Brewing Co., Green Bench Brewing Company, and St. Pete Brewing Co.

As you browse the aisles, keep an eye out for playful murals of mischievous cats scattered throughout the shop. Created by local artist Cory Robinson, the cartoon cats pay tribute to the “bodega cats” commonly found in New York City convenience stores.

Created by local artist Cory Robinson, the cartoon cats pay tribute to the “bodega cats” commonly found in New York City convenience stores | St Pete Rising

The opening of Duckweed in St. Pete marks a milestone for the local company and reflects the continued growth of this stretch of downtown St. Pete, which has seen a surge in apartments, restaurants, and shops in recent years.

Duckweed Urban Grocery began in 2011 when the original owners, living in downtown Tampa, found themselves out of eggs and unable to make the breakfast they had planned.

That simple inconvenience sparked the idea for a neighborhood grocery store, and the first Duckweed opened in a modest 550-square-foot space on East Polk Street.

The concept quickly gained traction, and today Duckweed operates five locations throughout Tampa.

The freezers are stocked with a wide variety of beverages, including sodas, hard seltzers, THC-infused drinks, and craft beers from popular Tampa Bay breweries | St pete Rising

The new Duckweed will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday just in time for the annual St. Pete Pride festivities.

Eventually, the store will expand its hours to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The Duckweed team is also preparing to launch a delivery service in the coming weeks and is open to suggestions from customers on what products they'd like to see in stores.

Be sure to follow Duckweed's Instagram and Facebook for the latest store announcements and offerings.