Grand Central Brewhouse

Karaoke night will soon be every night at LALA St. Pete, a new restaurant, bar, and karaoke box opening at 2324 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg.

The 4,500 square foot concept will feature two floors of restaurant space with an indoor capacity of 175 seats. There will also be seven private karaoke rooms, a rooftop bar, and courtyard space which will be shared with the neighboring Grand Central Brewhouse.

Karaoke rooms, or karaoke boxes, got their start in Japan in the 1980’s. Instead of singing in a public space, such as a crowded bar, friends convened in private rooms to belt out their favorite hits. Private karaoke rooms are still most popular in Asian countries, but have recently started to gain popularity in Canada, Europe and the United States.

A new micro-brewery and restaurant are headed to St. Pete’s up-and-coming Grand Central District.

Located next to Dog Bar, at 2324 Central Avenue, the 0.41 acre lot was purchased for $860,000 in September 2019 by Grand Central Property Holdings, a limited liability company controlled by insurance executive and philanthropist Kevin Milkey.

Shortly after closing on the land, the existing structures were demolished and plans for a two- story, 10,270 square foot development were announced. The site was previously home to a Taco Bus restaurant, which closed in September 2017.