Lakeview Farm Store will open a second location in the Grand Central District of St pete by late summer or early fall | Lakeview Farm Store

A small specialty grocery store focused on organic, locally-grown foods is headed to St. Pete, offering a more direct connection to nearby farms, a curated selection of clean ingredients, and products you won’t typically find at larger grocery stores.

Lakeview Farm Store will open its second location late summer or early fall at 1847 1st Avenue North in the Grand Central District, taking over the former home of educational nonprofit school Indi-ED, which relocated to 1619 11th Avenue North last spring.

The 3,540 square-foot space will be significantly larger than the company’s 1,000-square-foot Clearwater farm store.

The business is run by the Barbagelata family, who moved from Argentina to Pinellas County in 2021.

Their father worked as an agricultural engineer, connecting farmers to global markets, an influence that shaped the store’s approach to sourcing and food quality.

A rendering of the sT. Pete location of Lakeview Farm Store, a specialty grocery store that focuses on organic, locally-grown foods | Lakeview Farm Store

“We were always connected to farming through our dad,” Mateo Barbagelata said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “But when we came here, we saw an opportunity to build something different, something more transparent, and closer to the source.”

Rather than relying on traditional distribution channels, Lakeview partners directly with local producers, including Life Farms, Alday Farm, Florida Fruit Co-op, Olivor Heritage Farms, Fort McCoy Ranch, and other small ranchers who raise 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef and organic, soy-free, corn-free, pasture-raised chicken.

The team is also excited to welcome Gamble Creek Farms as a primary supplier of organic vegetables and tropical fruits.

The Barbagelatas regularly visit farms and get to know the growers, so they have a clear understanding of how the food is actually produced.

Lakeview’s ST. Pete location will carry organic vegetables and tropical fruits from Gamble Creek Farms | Lakeview Farm Store

“We always know the farmer, their soil, and the practices they’re using,” Mateo said. “Our mission is to help rebuild the food system by making truly transparent, nutrient dense, responsibly raised food accessible to every community.”

The St. Pete location will offer seasonal organic produce, grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, and a wide selection of raw dairy products, including milk, cheese, butter, kefir, and yogurt.

The larger store will also carry an expanded selection of pantry staples, supplements, household essentials, and freshly baked organic sourdough bread and pastries.

Mateo’s sister, Belen Barbagelata, said the goal is to simplify shopping for customers looking for clean ingredients.

“When you enter our store, you don’t have to read every label,” she said. “We’ve already done that work. Everything meets our standards: no seed oils, no refined sugars, no ultra-processed foods. Only clean, organic ingredients.”

Lakeview’s St. Pete location will carry a wide selection of raw dairy products, including milk, cheese, butter, kefir, and yogurt | Lakeview Farm Store

The store will also introduce a dedicated juice kitchen producing organic cold-pressed juices made in-house, along with organic coffee and house made milks such as almond and coconut.

The shop will also carry a selection of locally-made specialty goods, such as kimchi and sauerkraut from St. Pete Ferments.

Beyond the products themselves, the Barbagelatas say the in-store experience is just as important.

“We try to offer more than just grocery shopping,” Mateo said. “We’ve built real relationships with our customers over the years, and we want to bring that same community to St. Pete.”

Currently, Lakeview offers same-day delivery in Pinellas County and next-day delivery throughout the rest of the Tampa Bay area. Once the new location opens, the company plans to expand same-day delivery across the entire Tampa Bay region.

The Barbagelatas said St. Pete was a natural fit due to its strong support for local businesses and a growing base of health-conscious residents.