Those of you that know me really well, know that gift giving is a love language of mine. Well, I can tell you that Allie Padin, owner of The Canary, has this talent in spades. Allie opened her shop in November on the coveted 600 block of Central. She specializes in creative gifts and home furnishing, a "happy store" that is fun to shop and has something for everyone! In our conversation we learned how her background with retail and curating stunning window displays for major retailers along 5th Ave in NYC helped fuel her passion for design and creativity. Outside of the retail space, Allie pursued interior design in Westchester New York. Like so many others, she was ready for a change of scenery and after visiting someone she knew in St Pete, immediately fell in love and quickly moved here. She had always wanted to open a gift and home store and when the opportunity presented itself, she took it. If you have shopped inside The Canary already or even just walked by the window, you've probably noticed her adorable shop cat, Gator. She will jokingly say that Gator is the real reason people stop by, and while that might be true, I also think it's because you can't help but have your mood lightened when you step into the sunny shop, aptly named The Canary.

Visit:

The Canary

655 Central Ave

Follow:

@thecanarystpete