Support the Historic Corner Market

My name is Gail Wisler, and I am a resident of Lincolnville in St. Augustine, FL. The Corner Market, located at 97 Martin Luther King Ave., is a historic site in the Lincolnville neighborhood of St. Augustine, FL. The Lincolnville National Historic District is St. Augustine's most prominent, historically black neighborhood and is associated with many significant events in the city's African American history. Founded in 1866 by former slaves, Lincolnville was a hub of activity in efforts to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Built in 1920, The Corner Market has been the only continuous business owned and run by African Americans in Lincolnville from the Jim Crow era. It was once a popular confectionery and sundries store, and is also the site of the former Lincolnville Public Library. Established in the 1940’s, it was the only library in St. Augustine where African Americans could visit, read, and check out books. The original library sign hangs on the north side of the building on DeHaven St., with the ACCORD historical marker, and is part of the Florida, St. Augustine Freedom Trail. It was here that Rev. Thomas Wright, pastor of St. Mary's Baptist Church and president of the St. Augustine NAACP, trained students from Florida Memorial College in nonviolent techniques before they began sitting-in at local lunch counters in the 1960s to protest racial discrimination.

 

Today, the Corner Market sells homemade specialty food products, yummy desserts (amazing chocolates!) and some dry goods. It is managed and co-owned by Nyk Smith and her wonderful family. Nyk is an innovative food entrepreneur, who grew up in Lincolnville during the turbulent ‘60’s. Almost a decade ago, Nyk returned home to dedicate her energies to the Lincolnville community. Nyk is committed to taking the Corner Market to the next level. The Market regularly hosts special events and brunches, and is currently developing a charming terrace so that The Market can host more special activities in this time of COVID. Going forward, says Nyk, she plans to host traveling chefs for pop-up dinners. “The Market has always been a gathering place for the community, and we are excited about making the building more resilient. Storms and time have taken their toll and it’s time to invest in this historic building’s infrastructure so that we can welcome more people into the space”.

 

We need your generous donations to help restore the Corner Market. Although there are county and city resources for renovation of historic properties (even churches), none of these funds can be used for a commercial business. Our initial goal for the Corner Market is $60,000 for the roof replacement, repairs and upgrades, including new insulation, heating and air conditioning units, dry wall repairs and replacements, and kitchen upgrades. *We plan to request additional funds in stages to help complete the needed repairs/upgrades and again make the Corner Market a thriving part of Lincolnville. So please stay tuned for updates! Please become a part of reviving a part of our collective history in St. Augustine. We will keep you informed of our progress. Thanks!

*Itemized expenses for Corner Market renovations:  
Estimated costs: range in US dollars
 
Complete New Roof
35-45,000
 
HVAC replacement
21,000 
 
Drywall and Insulation; all new
30,000 
 
Electrical Upgrade
20,000
 
Plumbing Upgrade
20,000
 
Vinyl, Waterproof Flooring
15,000 
 
kitchen remodel; move wall, add 2 islands
$14/sq ft