Carmen Macri
What was once an 1945 Indian River Fruit stand is now an eclectic soul’s paradise
Words by Carmen Macri
Spinster Abbot’s is a one-stop playground where creativity and community collide. Walking through the space feels like stepping into a reimagined Florida five-and-dime, filled with character at every turn. You’ll first pass through the bodega, a snug spot stocked with local goods that set the tone for what’s to come.
To the back right, Snake Bird — one of two vintage shops — beckons with its thoughtfully curated collection of timeless finds. On the left, the taproom blends seamlessly with the coffee shop, where every piece of furniture is thrifted. Mismatched chairs, well-loved couches and even the bar itself carry stories of their own. Step outside, and with the garage doors rolled up, the patio opens wide. Hot Box food truck serves up Hawaiian-inspired eats while the hum of conversation and the buzz of music fill the air.
Right next door, a charming yellow two-story historic home adds to the charm. The bottom floor will soon house another vintage shop, offering even more opportunities for treasure hunting. Upstairs, the entire top floor has been transformed into a cozy Airbnb.
It’s a space that flows effortlessly, inviting you to linger, explore and stay a while.
The saying “A jack of all trades is a master of none” clearly hasn’t seen Liz Snyder in action yet. This Gainesville native has found herself at the heart of all the action. Quickly turning herself into something essential to the community. The dream was simple: “Wouldn’t it be cool if…” and the list never ended.
Snyder and her husband Sam had spent 13 years in Anchorage, Alaska, after moving from Gainesville. While they had built a life they loved there, the pull of home was undeniable. But the big question lingered: What would they do once they returned? Like many couples, they found themselves daydreaming about a life where they called the shots. They imagined creating a business that nurtured a sense of community — just like the one they had come to cherish.
“I think after COVID came, we were like, ‘Oh shit, life is short.’ We missed our family, and so we said, alright, we’ll come back down, but what are we going to do? And we’d always bullshitted over date night — like I think every couple does — ‘wouldn’t it be cool if’ and we would just keep adding to it,” Liz shared. “I had a sense of ‘I got to see cool places and meet cool people,’ so I was like, I’d love to have a little local grocery store, let’s have a bar with craft beer. Or wouldn’t it be cool to have a food truck? Let’s do a vintage shop with plants.”
And as luck would have it, after a particularly rough day at work, Sam Snyder came home, did what many adults do — doom-scrolled through Zillow — and stumbled upon the old Indian River Fruit Stand. She and her Sam were instantly hooked, drawn to the vacant building, which just so happened to come with a gorgeous historic two-story home in a package deal. It worked out perfectly, considering they’d moved down just a week before they were set to sign the paperwork and needed a place to stay. But that, too, would turn into a business venture.
“I always joke that I think I blacked out, and when I woke up, I had a business plan and a forecast and an application for a small business loan. [I] figured out how to pull money irresponsibly early from my retirement and had a list of people I was going to call to see if they want to invest a little bit of money in it,” Liz explained. “I think the stars just aligned. I don’t know how else I would have made it happen.
For the Snyders, the dominos just kept falling into place. They quickly found local businesses to fill the space and assembled a crew of friendly faces to welcome customers. Since Spinster Abbot’s grand opening nearly two years ago, it’s become a thriving hub with a community unlike any other. Whether you’re a local regular or a tourist passing through, the Snyders’ little corner of the world feels like a home away from home — which was the goal from the beginning.
Beyond the bodega, tap house, coffee shop, vintage shop, Airbnb and resident food truck (a mouthful, I know), Spinster Abbot’s keeps things lively with weekly events. From listening parties and craft nights to block parties and bustling markets, there’s always something up the Snyders’ sleeve.
“I think this is what happens when you don’t get to feel home for that long, and then you can just let your heart explode a little bit. And this is what was inside me under a parka for 13 years,” Snyder shared. “Not to sound cheesy or cliche, but legitimately, what makes this place special are the people that work here, and I mean that with every fiber of my being. We have folks who work here —like the whole age range — we have high schoolers to retirees, and that represents our clientele. So it’s a super welcoming space for all walks of life. As long as you’re nice. That’s the rule.”
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