St. Petersburg city leaders are evaluating a plan to transition local vendors at the St. Pete Pier Marketplace from tents to permanent kiosks. Replacing tents with permanent kiosksWhat we know:At a recent St. Pete Economic and Workforce Development Committee meeting, officials discussed a proposal to replace three vendor tents with permanent kiosk units each year over a seven-year period. Currently, 28 tenants operate at the Pier Marketplace from Friday through Sunday. While seven vendors already occupy permanent kiosks, 21 set up and take down tents every weekend. City officials noted that the weekend tents are also vulnerable to weather conditions, creating challenges for small business owners.