Best Local Makers in St. Pete-Clearwater

Belleair Bluffs chocolatier William Dean Chocolates doesn’t just sell crowd-pleasing sweets. Founder Bill Brown, whose official title is "Chief Chocolate Officer," is an artist whose medium happens to be chocolate.

The end product? Colorful confections that look like gemstones with a priceless taste to match. From the tiny coffee beans emblazoned on an espresso bonbon to a butterfly-shaped lavender-and-vanilla bean truffle, Brown said his work is driven by his inner need to be creative.  

“I’ve spent my entire life like a candle waiting to be lit and when I came across hand-painted artisan chocolates, it was the spark that lit me,” he said. “From a young age, I’ve always needed to express myself and for me, chocolates became the medium.”
 

Nestled in the city's Warehouse Arts District, St. Petersburg Distillery has been crafting quality spirits for a decade. You can find their products – namely, their Banyan Reserve vodka, Tropical gin, Sunshine whiskey, and a variety of locally inspired liqueurs, at craft cocktail bars and major retail chains (Publix, Total Wine) alike around town. 

The distillery also offers tasting experiences, tours and cocktail-making classes.

"In launching the distillery, our founders were inspired by a passion for creating unique, adventurous spirits and sharing them with the local community,” said Matt Armstrong, president of St. Petersburg Distillery. “Over the past 10 years, our growth has been inspired by the amazing spirit and talent of St. Pete’s growing arts and cultural scene, which we’re privileged to embrace, support, and incorporate into everything we do.”
 

Twin brothers David and Duane Hogg share more than chromosomes. Their mutual love of the coffee-roasting process inspired them to experiment with roasting green coffee beans using a stovetop popcorn maker. By the time Hogg Batch Experimental Coffee Roasters launched in 2019, they were equipped with a commercial kitchen and a unique business idea: small-batch, barrel-roasted coffee beans. The brothers worked with distilleries, brewers and winemakers to source barrels suitable for aging their coffee beans. 

Hogg Batch now offers their product by the bag – and you can also find it served at coffee shops throughout St. Pete. You'll also see them at events in the community.

“Thinking about where coffee will be in the next 10 years excites us and keeps us constantly inspired to innovate. It's no longer just about a cup of coffee; it's about the connection to the source, the story behind each bean, and the community it brings together, from farm to cup,” said Duane Hogg.

As a Black-owned business, they also hope to challenge the status quo when it comes to representation within the industry. “Our goal is to change how people see coffee and the environments where it's enjoyed,” Duane Hogg said. “This vision of unity, representation, and innovation drives us daily."
 

Whether you’re at a grocery store, local festival or craft brewery, you're likely find Mother Kombucha’s fermented (but non-alcoholic) concoctions on tap or by the bottle. It all started in 2014, when cofounder Tonya Donati, a fifth-generation Floridian, realized that the Sunshine State was lacking local kombucha makers. Mother Kombucha was born, and Donati and her team began offering their product at farmers markets. The business has since evolved into an instantly recognizable brand you can find everywhere from St. Pete's Rollin’ Oats health food grocery store to craft breweries like Dissent Craft Brewing Company. 

“At 10 years in, I continue to be amazed and inspired by our stakeholders – our team, our customers and our partners – and how Mother is much like the culture that creates kombucha,” Donati said. “It is diverse, it survives under many conditions, and it is ever-changing and evolving.

The roster of flavors is also ever-evolving. Blue Rose is a popular flavor – as is Lavender Mojito. The new Serene Tropical Guava flavor is a popular base for an on-trend “sleepy girl mocktail.” 
 

With an aesthetic that gives off "desert music festival" vibes, Bohemian Rêves crafts and sells small-batch candles and body care products that push the envelope in both name and essence. From candles to skincare, founder Amelia Naomi Dean’s creations capture the zeitgeist in a way few others have. Bestsellers include scented candles with tongue-in-cheek (and sometimes risque) names inspired by Dean's life experiences.

Everything Bohemian Rêves crafts features a complex bouquet of aromas deriving from expertly sourced, often seasonal ingredients with what could be called a witchy flourish. The Pumpkin Seed + Blood Orange Luxe lotion exudes the essence of fall like no pumpkin spice latte can. 

While you can find these products online (and in the hippest boutiques in Brooklyn and beyond), Dean’s expansive brick-and-mortar shop in the Grand Central District of St. Pete is the best place to experience it all. 

About Our Writer

Kate Bradshaw is a St. Petersburg-based writer, musician, runner and dog mom who covers beaches, local culture, vegan dining, higher education and other topics for a variety of publications. Her work has appeared in Fodor's Travel, Creative Loafing, The Tampa Tribune and others.