News Summary
St. Petersburg has enhanced its film photography resources with the launch of a dropbox by Coastal Film Lab at Black Crow Coffee. This service facilitates easy film drop-offs for both amateur and professional photographers, eliminating the need to travel to Tampa for development. The dropbox, operational since June 18, 2025, integrates seamlessly into the coffee shop’s environment and aims to provide accessible film development services. Coastal Film Lab is committed to expanding its services and may install additional dropboxes in the future.
St. Petersburg Welcomes New Film Development Dropbox
St. Petersburg has gained a new resource for film photographers with the installation of a dropbox by Coastal Film Lab at Black Crow Coffee’s Grand Central District location. This service officially launched on June 18, 2025, enabling both amateur and experienced photographers to conveniently drop off their film for development without the need to travel across the bridge to the lab in Tampa.
Previously, customers in St. Petersburg had to navigate traffic to reach Coastal Film Lab, often worrying about potential delays impacting their orders. The new dropbox is designed to eliminate this concern, making the process of film photography more enjoyable and accessible by significantly reducing travel time. Coastal Film Lab is dedicated to enhancing its services, and the dropbox is a testament to its commitment to customer convenience.
Details of the Dropbox Installation
Coastal Film Lab conducted a thorough scouting of potential St. Petersburg locations and selected Black Crow Coffee as the ideal partner due to its existing customer base, appealing atmosphere, and accommodating hours. The dropbox is positioned at the back entrance of Black Crow Coffee, located at 2157 1st Ave. S. This setup allows for seamless integration into the coffee shop’s operations, encouraging film enthusiasts to engage with the service while enjoying their favorite beverages.
The dropbox operates similarly to online or mail-in services. Customers can scan a QR code to access the lab’s website, select their film type, and fill out the necessary order form. Once the film is securely bagged with the order form attached, Coastal Film Lab staff retrieves the drop-offs once a day, Monday through Friday.
Comprehensive Film Development Services
Coastal Film Lab specializes in professional development services for a wide range of film types, including C-41 color, black-and-white, E-6 slide film, and ECN-2 motion picture film. The lab maintains efficient processing and scanning practices, achieving standard turnaround times of approximately seven business days, with expedited options available for those requiring quicker service. Upon completion, customers receive their film scans via Google Drive and can choose their preferred method for receiving the negatives.
For photographers seeking personalized results, Coastal Film Lab also offers a premium service that includes detailed color consultations to ensure that scans align with individual editing styles.
Additional Services and Future Expansion Plans
Beyond film development, Coastal Film Lab provides a comprehensive array of services including the buying and selling of film, camera repair services, and the operation of a full-service analog camera shop. These offerings help to meet the diverse needs of the film photography community in St. Petersburg and beyond.
Encouraged by the positive response to the new dropbox, Coastal Film Lab is exploring plans to install additional dropboxes at other locations, both within Florida and in other states, to further enhance accessibility for customers across a wider area.
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HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- The Gabber
- Wikipedia: Film Development
- I Love the Burg
- Google Search: Film Photography Development
- St. Pete Catalyst
- Google Scholar: Film Photography Businesses
- Flamingo Magazine
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Film Festivals
Author: STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER
The TAMPA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETampa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Florida State Fair, and Tampa Riverfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and United Way Suncoast, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and technology that power the local economy such as BayCare Health System, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, and KnowBe4. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERESTPetersburg.com, and HERETallahassee.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
