Photos: Gays, Lesbians, Business Owners Celebrate St. Pete Pride

Henry Haddock unwraps pink roses Tuesday afternoon in the Vintage Vase Florist Shop. Haddock and Nick Rea opened the floral shop five months ago in the Grand Central District. The two are business partners as well as life partners.

Realtor Jim Longstreth, right, has a cup of coffee with Lindsey Ballas on Wednesday morning at Grinders Coffee and Art Bar. Owners Andrea Pawlisz and Dawn Bielawski opened the coffee shop two months ago. "Business has been steady and growing daily. With events like the Pride Parade the residual business we won't be able to calculate," Pawlisz said. Longstreth and his brother Brian own Your Neighborhood Realtors next door to the coffee shop. The agency is credited with encouraging business development in the area.

Nick Rea arranges flowers Tuesday afternoon for a client. When the shop has an overabundance of flowers, Rea and Haddock donate them to area nursing homes. "Ever since we've opened up it seems like there has been an influx of gay businesses," Rea said. In the last six months five gay-owned businesses have opened in the Grand Central District Realtor Brian Longstreth said.