Oddities around every corner!

No story of St. Petersburg would be complete without a mention of Webb’s City, “The World’s Most Unusual Drug Store.” James “Doc” Webb moved to St. Pete from his native Knoxville in 1925 to join a friend who operated a drugstore on the northeast corner of 9th Street South and 2nd Avenue South. Webb’s timing wasn’t great, as the Florida Land Boom collapsed a year later, but he was able to buy out his partner and begin his iconic and unusual journey.

Webb was more showman than a pharmacist, so he began to cut his prices and add to his offerings – and his property. At its peak, Webb’s City was basically the world’s first mall, offering customers a dizzying variety of products, including clothing, groceries, prepared food, a flower shop, hardware, and nearly everything else one could sell. Even more, his store had an incredible list of entertainment and attractions, including vaudeville acts, talking mermaids, and “dancing” chickens.