Demolition on the St. Pete Pier is finally underway. Crews started knocking down part of the iconic inverted pyramid Tuesday.

But residents and tourists alike say they'll miss it.

For Susan Robertson, watching the old pier being torn down is like watching a part of her life being demolished with it. She spent the last 12 years as the pier's marketing director.

“It has a lot of memories and a lot of feelings for a lot of people that were married there. That got engaged there. That brought their babies there. That met their wife there,” she said.

The city has planned an official ceremony to say goodbye to the Pier before it is demolished. The celebration is planned for Friday at 5 p.m.

Kim Langley holds one of those special memories and just happened to be back in town from Connecticut with her family to grab one last look and remember.

“My husband and I actually went on our very first date at Cha Cha Coconuts upstairs and it was the moment of our very first kiss actually,” said Langley.

But for Nic Weathersbee, it's more heartbreaking than heartwarming. For 13 years he owned Global Candle Gallery in the pier and fought the change.



“I don't believe it was an honest process. I think it was shady, and I won't like the outcome,” Weathersbee said.

But Robertson said when she thinks about the old pier, she’ll dance.

“My mother, who's passed away now, remembered the Million Dollar Pier. And remembered dancing at the Million Dollar Pier. I can now remember dancing at this Pier. And hopefully my grandchildren will dance at the new pier,” she said.

It's expected to take about six months to fully demolish the pier. The city is finalizing details on an official pier-send off.

