LGBTQ+ businesses in the United States contribute an estimated $1.7 trillion to America’s economy, creating thousands of new jobs each year. The Greenhouse celebrates the LGBTQ+ innovators and entrepreneurs who provide essential services and diversify our community!
Meet the Owners of Good Intentions:
GH: Tell us a little about yourself + your business.
GI: We are Florida’s first all vegan owned full-service bar and restaurant located a few blocks from Tropicana Field and right off the Pinellas Trail on 19th and 1st Ave S. We turn 2 this September.
GH: How can the community support you and your business?
GI: The community can support us by showing up! We serve dinner Tuesday – Sunday, have lunch on Friday and brunch on the weekends. We are open a little later than some other restaurants in town (10 during the week, 11pm on Friday and Saturday) with hopes to eventually grow into even later hours as we have noticed a drought in late night eats in the city. In addition to being a nearly everyday restaurant, we also do fun and special events. In June, we had a Queer Trivia event (free to play!), a DykeNite dance party and brunch, and a mixer with Queer Expression. Coming up in July, we will be open for lunch and dinner on the 4th of July, and we’ll be hosting a The Office Trivia on July 29. We typically do our special events on Monday nights, and they have been a great success! We also are opening ourselves up to be a wedding venue on Mondays, and we have booked our first wedding and reception already!
GH: What does Pride month mean to you?
GI: Pride month is probably my favorite month. I love the fun and gatherings and seeing what all the other businesses do during Pride. I think Pride, beyond the parties and parades and tons of fun, is crucial for the LGBTQ+ community, especially in this political climate in this state specifically. Pride brings in people from all over the state who maybe must live different lives in their hometowns and creates a beautiful, safe space that supports and uplifts people from the community.
GH: What inspired you to start your business & what is your “why”?
GI: We started Good Intentions because while St. Pete does have a pretty good selection of vegan places and options, all of them were faster casual, and we wanted and knew there was a need for a slightly more formal, traditional bar and restaurant. I wouldn’t call us formal or fancy, but we do have some more elevated entrees as well as a gorgeous interior space and bar.
GH: What advice would you give to others looking to start/grow their business?
GI: My advice would be to put in the hours, especially at the beginning and keep your focus on the business to make sure that it is going the way you want it, especially in the restaurant industry as things can go south very quickly because of the high operating costs.
Owners from left to right: Jeff Howe, Jenny Howe, Bryon Lippincott, Mikey Schmidt, Audrey Dingeman, Brian Dingeman
