"We cannot let this building go dark."
They met as one in the parking lot of the Sweetbay Supermarket to reassure a community often resigned to defeat.
They will not give up, the politicians and community leaders pledged. Every avenue is being pursued to keep the supermarket and shopping center anchor in place.
At the same time — just in case — they are urgently trying to contact other grocery chains to get them to consider the Tangerine Plaza site so Midtown St. Petersburg will not be left barren.
"It's important that the community understands that many of the political leaders consider this an important priority," said City Council chairman Karl Nurse, who represents a large portion of Midtown. "The worst thing that can happen is that it closes and we do nothing."
Read more at the Tampa Bay Times.