July 24, 2026

St. Pete considers upgrading Pier Marketplace, replacing tents with permanent kiosks

July 24, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

St. Pete Pier’s Marketplace, which sells everything from handcrafted goods and hot sauces to fresh flowers, may get a new look soon.

Operating Friday through Sunday, the Marketplace is home to nearly 30 tenants with seven permanent kiosks and 21 vendors operating out of 10-by-10-foot tents.

To improve the experience for vendors and create a unified design, the city is considering a plan to replace three tents with permanent kiosks each year, phasing out the tents over the next seven years.

“We’ve always wanted to have the kiosks,” Beth Herendeen, City Development Administration managing director, said during this week’s Workforce and Economic Development Committee meeting.

The tents were never part of the future vision of the 26-acre Pier District, which boasts modern amenities like a playground, splash pad, and landscaped paths.

Herendeen explained that since 2022, the additional kiosks were included in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), a multi-year roadmap used to plan, prioritize, and fund major public infrastructure projects, facility upgrades, and large equipment purchases.

July 23, 2026

All-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant Sushi Yama replaces Winghouse in Pinellas Park

July 23, 2026/ Kyla Fields

A new, all you-can-eat sushi restaurant quietly opened its doors last weekend.

Sushi Yama is now open at 7790 US Highway 19 North in Pinellas Park, around the corner from Bojangles and bb.q Chicken.

The sushi spot took over the 8,000 square-foot space previously occupied by Winghouse, which closed last summer.

Sushi Yama opened to the public on Saturday, July 18.

The sushi restaurant offers a wide variety of raw and cooked sushi rolls, sashimi, salads, hand rolls, and soups, plus hibachi dishes like teriyaki chicken, fried rice, yaki udon noodles, tempura, and katsu.

Unlike other all-you-can-eat restaurants, all of the dishes at Sushi Yama are made to order and brought directly to the table, ensuring a high quality dining experience.

July 22, 2026

New breakfast chain Biscuit Belly to replace Maple Street Biscuit Company in downtown St. Pete

July 22, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Maple Street Biscuit Company in downtown St. Pete will soon become a new breakfast and brunch destination following a change in ownership.

Parent company Cracker Barrel announced Tuesday that it has sold Maple Street Biscuit Company to Louisville, Kentucky-based breakfast chain Biscuit Belly. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As part of the acquisition, 16 Maple Street locations will close while Biscuit Belly will assume ownership of the remaining 35, including the restaurant at 662 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete.

The acquired locations will be renovated and rebranded as Biscuit Belly restaurants over the next 18 to 24 months, with the first conversions expected to begin in January 2027. The deal will more than triple Biscuit Belly's footprint, bringing the chain to roughly 60 locations.

July 22, 2026

Army Corps to work with St. Pete to address canal-based flooding in Riviera Bay and other neighborhoods

July 22, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

The City of St. Petersburg is one step closer to advancing projects aimed at reducing canal-related flooding and restoring local waterways, with Riviera Bay expected to be a primary focus.

According to the Riviera Bay Civic Association, the neighborhood's drainage canals have filled with sand and sediment over time, reducing their capacity to hold and move water and contributing to recurring flooding.

Earlier this month, the city announced that its request for authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood resilience, ecosystem restoration, and canal dredging was unanimously approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The approval is included in the 2026 reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the federal legislation that authorizes water infrastructure, flood control, and ecosystem restoration projects nationwide.

July 21, 2026

Thirsty First, local hangout and sports bar, to close after 10 years in downtown St. Pete

July 21, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

After serving patrons and sports fans for a decade, the popular local hangout Thirsty First will permanently close its doors.

Thirsty First, which has been a staple of downtown St. Petersburg’s nightlife scene since 2016, announced it will close the bar and restaurant at 515 Central Avenue.

A final celebration amongst friends and loyal guests will be held on Sunday, July 26, owner Greg Mikurak announced on Facebook and Instagram Monday evening.

“When I opened Thirsty First, I hoped to build a great sports bar. What I never expected was to build a community and a family,” wrote Mikurak.

“Over the last decade, I've watched first dates turn into marriages, strangers become lifelong friends, championship celebrations shake the walls, and thousands of people choose to spend some of the best moments of their lives with us,” he continued. “We've celebrated victories, survived difficult times, and made memories that I'll carry with me forever.”

July 20, 2026

Hanalei Shave Ice relocates to St. Pete, bringing authentic Hawaiian dessert and coastal vibes

July 20, 2026/ Kyla Fields

A new St. Pete business specializes in sweet treats that are perfect for beating the sweltering summertime heat.

A small, tropical-themed trailer called Hanalei Shave Ice is parked at 2912 24th Street North near the St. Pete Heights neighborhood. On the weekends, it dishes out authentic and all-natural Hawaiian shave ice, a popular dessert that combines soft, thinly-shaved ice with locally-sourced fruit, sauces, and other toppings.

Owner Brandy Lynn Ford launched her business in Orlando’s Mills 50 district in 2019, and relocated the mobile shave ice business to St. Pete a few months ago.

“I just felt like a coastal city like St. Pete would be great for my small business, it’s a place that feels so homegrown to me,” Ford says in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “I wanted to bring something culturally authentic to this area, and also wanted to be a bit closer to the water.”

A military veteran who worked as a professional chef for over two decades, Ford has channeled her vast culinary experience into one product that has ties to her upbringing and culture.

“You’ll never see me in that camper without a smile on, because it is a joy to be able to do something that connects myself to my culture, my ancestors, and my kupuna. It makes me super proud to share this treat with people,” Ford says, whose father is a native Hawaiian.

July 17, 2026

Great Explorations eyes south St. Pete elementary school for new 80,000-square-foot Discovery Center

July 17, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Known for its immersive pretend-play spaces and educational programming, Great Explorations Children's Museum is preparing to expand its footprint and offerings to all ages, but not without help and input from the community.

Founded in 1986 as The Hands-On Museum, Great Explorations has evolved into a 24,000-square-foot center for imagination and discovery designed for children around 8 years old.

The St. Petersburg institution, located at 1925 4th Street North next to Sunken Gardens, aims to further its educational programming by building a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)-focused discovery center at 5800 22nd Street South.

July 16, 2026

St. Pete Beach’s The Helm Seafood Parlour to move next door as current location becomes event space, retail shop

July 16, 2026/ Kyla Fields

The Helm Seafood Parlour is expanding on St. Pete Beach, relocating to a larger space next door while turning its original location into a new event venue and culinary workshop called The Scullery.

The restaurant will relocate from 7736 Blind Pass Road to the adjacent building at 7800 Blind Pass Road, the former home of Verducci's Trattoria and Pizzeria.

The Italian restaurant never reopened after the back-to-back hurricanes in 2024, and the building has remained vacant since then.

When The Helm reopens in the 4,120-square-foot former Verducci's space, it will offer nearly twice the restaurant space, a larger kitchen, additional seating and a private dining room that can accommodate 30 to 40 guests.

The Helm's original 2,500-square-foot location will be reimagined as The Scullery, an event venue and retail space that will host private events, cooking classes and workshops.

July 16, 2026

Fast-casual seafood restaurant Shaka Shrimp Kitchen coming to the EDGE District

July 16, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

A new fast-casual seafood restaurant specializing in shrimp dishes and ahi tuna bowls is coming to the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete.

Shaka Shrimp Kitchen is expected to open by the end of the year at 911 Central Avenue, replacing Buya Ramen, which closed last August after nine years in business.

The restaurant takes its name from the "shaka" hand gesture, a symbol commonly associated with friendliness, and gratitude.

Co-owner Ronan McCaffrey said the concept draws inspiration from Polynesian culture, helping shape the restaurant's relaxed, “come as you are” philosophy.

The menu will center around shrimp prepared in a variety of styles, alongside ahi tuna bowls.

All of the restaurant's dressings and sauces, such as garlic butter, coconut, and chili lime, will be made in-house.

Guests will order at the counter before staff deliver meals to their tables. A self-serve beverage station will also be available.

“We want to highlight shrimp through different cooking methods, entrees, and sauces,” McCaffrey said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “Shrimp is the most consumed seafood product in the United States.”

July 15, 2026

Chill Bros Scoop Shop pops up at Green Bench Brewing this weekend

July 15, 2026/ Kyla Fields

Tampa-based Chill Bros Scoop Shop will bring its ice cream to downtown St. Pete this Friday with a pop-up at Green Bench Brewing ahead of National Ice Cream Day.

The company's ice cream truck will be parked in front of the brewery at 1133 Baum Avenue North from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Green Bench's resident food truck, Offset Sandwich Exchange, and a local flower vendor will also be on-site.

“We wanted to use the truck to introduce St. Pete to Chill Bros and give people a taste of what makes us special,” Elisa Davis, Chill Bros' events and marketing manager, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We'd love to become more involved in the St. Pete community.”

Founded in 2020 by owner Max Chillura and his siblings, Chill Bros has expanded to five Tampa scoop shops and offers 19 flavors, including Tampa-inspired options such as Café Con Leche Chunk and Guava Pastelito.

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