pages and perks will pop-up at markets in tampa bay ahead of its storefront’s opening | pages and perks

A new bookstore called Pages and Perks is preparing to open at 914 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South near Historic Roser Park and the St. Petersburg Innovation District.

The 1,600-square-foot space is currently under renovation and owner Kate Johnson tells St. Pete Rising that Pages and Perks is slated to open this summer.

“People need a place to escape in a world that is stressful and very screen heavy, and we want to provide a space where people can escape through their story of choice,” Johnson said.

Pages and Perks will carry books across a range of genres, with a focus on fiction and works by local authors.

Pages and perks will sell different genres of books, from romance and fantasy to Young adult, non-fiction, and more | Pages and perks

Inside, a lounge area will welcome readers of all ages. Parents can enjoy beer, wine, or mocktails at a six-seat bar while children spend time in a kid-friendly section of the store.

Bottled mocktails will be provided by Curious Elixirs, which incorporates ingredients such as adaptogens, herbs, and mushrooms into its nonalcoholic beverages.

Johnson says the bookstore is designed as a flexible gathering space that will host book clubs, game nights, book signings, local author events, poetry readings, and meetups for games like Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.

“Our main focus is wanting to connect with the community. To help bring literacy back in a way, get people off of screens and more engaged in stories,” said Ben Johnson, Kate’s husband and the bookstore’s co-owner. “Stories are all around us, and I feel like they're kind of being lost because people aren't connecting and engaging with books anymore.”

Ahead of the storefront’s debut this summer, Pages and Perks plans to attend markets and events around Tampa Bay, selling books and introducing the concept to the community ahead of its opening.

Customers will also be able to order books and audiobooks through the store’s online shop.

rennovations on the 1,600-square-foot space at 914 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South are currently underway | pages and perks

Pages and Perks will be part of The Looking Glass Initiative, an adaptive reuse effort led by local real estate broker John Barkett and his wife, Julie.

Property records show that Looking Glass Initiative LLC purchased the block of retail buildings at 900–938 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South for $1.5 million in September 2025.

According to the project’s website, The Looking Glass Initiative is expected to bring several new concepts to the area, including a community garden, coffee shop and art gallery, café, and additional neighborhood-oriented businesses.

For updates on the opening, follow Pages and Perks on Instagram at @pagesandperksstpete.