Markets: Mr. I Got ‘Em

By Peter Roos

Mr. I Got ‘Em

People may think they know Brady Johnson aka Mr. I Got ‘Em, but few know his true story. Growing up in Alberta, Alabama, right outside Selma, Brady not only witnessed but actually participated in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Marches, and was a part of the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr.  Brady’s sister, a teacher, moved to St. Petersburg in 1967 and pleaded with him to join her.  Brady was completing high school when Martin Luther King was killed while leading a sanitation workers strike in April 1968. Sanitation workers were striking here too and Brady, to honor the legacy of Dr. King, came to St. Pete and applied for a job with the city of St. Petersburg sanitation department. It would take a year.

In the meantime, Brady got a truck, started selling fruits and vegetables as a roving vegetable vendor in St. Pete. When the city hired him, he continued selling veggies on the weekends, and eventually was awarded spots in St. Pete where he could set up. He stayed with the city for 44 years! When the Saturday Morning Market began, Brady was there with veggies and his “perfect BBQ.”  In 2007, when the Corey Ave. Sunday Market began, Brady was there, too.

Brady has a love of community and is always helping out where he can.  Prior to the pandemic, he spoke at local colleges, schools, and libraries about the days he marched with Dr. King.  During the pandemic he continued these via Zoom.  Today he is working with a history teacher from Eckerd College to have his story written for the National Archives, securing his role in American history for posterity.

You can find Brady every Wednesday evening swing dancing at the Gulfport Casino and every Sunday at the Corey Ave. Sunday Market on St. Pete Beach, 10am-2pm cooking up the best ribs, pulled pork, chicken, collard greens, mac-n-cheese, corn-on-the-cob, sweet potatoes and more!