The Corner Market in Lincolnville at 97 MLK Avenue, St. Augustine, FL has been in the Smith family's ownership for decades, and for the past seven years Nyk Smith has been running it. It is one of the few black-owned businesses left in this historic area, which was built by freed slaves, and if this building could talk, it would have so many stories to tell. "I'm really blessed to be here through generations of African-Americans, who have occupied this space, and I am just trying to keep it going," says Nyk Smith. "We're in survival mode. The community is changing so much, but I am proud and honored to keep this store open, although it has been a struggle lately with the pandemic and the renovations needed." Nyk has a vision for the Corner Market, but the 1920s building is in dire need of repairs and renovation, and she is still trying to turn the store around after the Covid-19 closings. "I'm hoping to do some pop-ups," Nyk says, explain

West King Is A Thing - West King Wednesday in St. Augustine Is Where Locals Go

WEST KING IS A THING . St. Augustine's west side is undergoing a not-so-subtle transformation, and the businesses in the West King business district just west of US1 are not letting it pass them by. Singer Jolie at the West King Market While the West King district in St. Augustine is just a short distance away from downtown St. Augustine, it is not an extension of the touristy downtown that locals often shy away from, it is a completely different feel. Read the full piece about the West King Market and West King Wednesday at the Florida Coastal Connection.

The Spirit of Giving Takes Center Stage at the St. Augustine Buy Nothing Group Holiday Party and Kids Shop

Emma Greer and Raye Coleman wrapping gifts for Rolanda Barber and Keimora. The spirit of giving was at the center of the St. Augustine Buy Nothing Holiday Party and Kids Shop, which was hosted by the St. Augustine Buy Nothing (Northeast) group at the Solomon Calhoun Center. "It is a community, where we help each other," says Rolanda Barber, who had brought Keimora to the holiday party. "I'm a part of the Buy Nothing group, and we were invited to come out, so that she can get a chance to fellowship and get gifts and feel the love and give the love." Read the full piece about the St. Augustine Buy Nothing Group at the Florida Coastal Connection.

West Augustine Housing Market Unaffordable for Locals

The West Augustine real estate market is so competitive that some houses are sold within days of being listed for sale, but while small used to mean affordable housing, this is no longer the case. The high home prices mean that many locals cannot afford to buy, and rent has increased to levels that are not sustainable for most people working in the area. You can read the full piece on the St. Augustine Housing Market at the St. Augustine Connection.

West Augustine Success: Carlos Hayward Williams "Just Be Great, Be Excellent."

"Never lose sight. Anything is possible, if they set their mind and intention to it, they can achieve it," says Carlos Hayward Williams, when asked to speak to the young people in West Augustine. "Never lose sight, there is so much to the world beyond the four walls that they see, and so they should just explore and imagine as much as possible." Williams is a long way from home. He is the Vice President of Human Resources for Global Operations and Co-Head of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity at Tapestry in New York, but he grew up in West Augustine, where he attended The Webster School, R.J. Murray Middle School and St. Augustine High School. Read the full piece about Carlos Hayward Williams at the Florida Coastal Connection.

Follow the Freedom Trail in St. Augustine

After watching footage of a rally in support of the January 6th rioters at the Plaza de la Constitucion in St. Augustine on the anniversary of the 2021 United States Capitol Attack, a walk on the Freedom Trail in St. Augustine serves as a reminder why remembering St. Augustine's history - good and bad - is so important. Read the full story about the St. Augustine Freedom Trail at the Florida Coastal Connection.