Seasons come and go. You wave bittersweet farewells to friends and welcome new neighbors. A city grows, greenspaces get developed, and dilapidated buildings are revitalized. The unstoppable wheel of time is an agent of change that colors our lives and the shared spaces of our community.
It’s a testament to any small business that can stand the test of time, especially in an area that’s experienced as much change and growth as St. Petersburg. This year marks year 30 that Rollin’ Oats has been providing a healthy and accessible grocery option to the St. Pete area, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone and many more years to come.
A Look Back: The Evolution of Rollin’ Oats and St. Pete
Rollin’ Oats was founded in 1994 by Bert Swain and Larry Schwartz, and we’ve come a long way since then. In 2006-2007, we expanded and updated the St. Pete store, moving the entrance, adding new space, and creating what is now our kitchen and indoor dining room. The community’s support allowed us to open our Tampa location in 2008, extending our reach and commitment to quality groceries.
A major expansion came in 2013-2014 when we added a second floor, expanded the store floor plan, and moved the front entrance again. In 2014, we created an outdoor dining patio, offering a fresh space for our customers to enjoy. We celebrated our 25th anniversary in 2019, and this year, in 2024, we’ve added Electric Vehicle Charging stations in St. Pete, continuing our commitment to sustainability.
St. Pete itself has evolved beautifully alongside us, transforming into a vibrant community with flourishing greenspaces, revitalized buildings, and a rich, dynamic culture. We’ve been proud to be part of this journey, supporting local businesses and participating in events like Localtopia and St. Pete Run Fest year after year.
Beer Collaborations: Toasting to Creativity
We’re excited to be partnering with two local bay area brewing legends for our anniversary. Easy Rollin’ Ale, our longest-running beer collaboration with Green Bench Brewing, is enjoying a facelift with a label refresh courtesy of local artist and designer Jujmo. We’re also thrilled to announce two new anniversary collaborations: Boujee Sour with Green Bench and On Cypress with Cigar City Brewing. The former is inspired by our popular new smoothie line, and the latter pays homage to the street where Rollin’ Oats Tampa is located, and the notes of cypress wood in the beer.
Cigar City finds good company alongside past collaborators like Green Bench, Edmund’s Oast, Angry Chair, and Motorworks. Both On Cypress and Boujee Sour will be available for a limited time and will be sampled at our anniversary celebration.
Join the Celebration on 7/27
Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 27th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our St. Pete location. You’ll be able to join us for a celebration filled with free samples from our favorite local brands, a photo booth, face painting, beer and wine tasting, live music, and more. It’s our way of saying thank you to the community that has supported us for three decades.
If you’re feeling a little nostalgic, we have throwback t-shirts and canvas totes for sale in St. Pete. The items are based off one of our original staff shirt designs, and are available for $19.94 each (see what we did there?)
Some local brands that will be sampling at the party include Mother Kombucha, Kahwa Coffee, Made Coffee, Sunset Salsa, A Bee’s Place Honey, and more. Come celebrate with us and enjoy the festivities.
Giveaways Galore
As a thank you to our loyal customers, we have been doing monthly giveaways since February this year. We have already given away items like a Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker, an Apple Watch Series 9 and even a Hisense 50 inch Roku Smart TV!
For our final grand prize, customers can enter to win a Peloton Bike at either of our store locations through July 27.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Rollin’ Oats
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we’re also looking ahead to the future. We plan to continue our exciting collaborations with local breweries and other partners, maintaining our commitment to providing high-quality, organic, and sustainable products. Our focus remains on supporting the local community, offering unparalleled customer service, and embracing sustainability initiatives. Stay tuned for more exciting developments and innovations as we continue to grow and evolve with St. Pete.
Thank you to all our customers and community members for your unwavering support over the past 30 years. We couldn’t have made it this far without you, and we look forward to many more years of serving you.
Stay connected with us through our website and social media channels, and continue being a part of the Rollin’ Oats family. Here’s to the next 30 years!