FROM THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Shrimatee Ojah-Maharaj
Business Assistance Center, (727) 892-5180

Richard Berthalot
Badcock Furniture, (727) 822-3741,


A NEW LOOK FOR LONGTERM MIDTOWN FURNITURE STORE

St. Petersburg, Fla. (June 20, 2005) On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S. is a furniture store that has served and witnessed more than three decades of transformation in the Midtown neighborhood of
St. Petersburg. On Thursday, June 30, the community is invited to join the mayor and members of City Council at the Badcock Furniture store (future name Badcock Home Furniture & More), 2200 Dr. M. L. King Jr. St. S., 10 a.m., to celebrate the new ownership, management and offerings of the south St. Petersburg landmark.

Richard Berthelot, a retired St. Petersburg Community Police Officer, has acquired the furniture store, and received assistance from the citys Business Assistance Center for the transition. Hes the first African American (originally from Haiti) to own the store, which has served St. Petersburg communities for generations.

"Mr. Berthelot understands the historic role this store has played in our community," said Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis III, "and shares with us the same bright optimism for the future of this business district. The Badcock store is a critical component of the Midtown Business Corridor Program," he said.

Mr. Berthelot said his new ownership and management of the store will place a premium value on customer service, and will include a product line of more than 4,000 items throughout the bright and spacious 17,000 square foot showroom.

Badcocks hours of operation will remain the same Open Monday to Saturday (closed Sunday) from
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

-end-

Robert Danielson, Marketing Manager
City of St. Petersburg
OFFICE 727-893-7467
FAX 727-892-5372
CELL 727-580-0791
EMAIL robert.danielson@stpete.org