Sanderlin Center plans 40,000-square-foot family and social services campus in south St. Pete

Sanderlin Center plans 40,000-square-foot family and social services campus in south St. Pete

For nearly 35 years, the James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center has supported families in south St. Pete with pre-kindergarten, after-school tutoring, job training, and weekly food distribution from its campus at 2335 22nd Avenue South.

Now, the nonprofit is preparing for what leaders describe as a transformational expansion.

Newly unveiled renderings offer a glimpse of a new 40,000-square-foot education and social services building on the organization’s five-acre campus.

The project would nearly double the size of the existing building, which would be demolished to make way for the new facility.

“This has been a dream for a while,” said Executive Director Celeste Collins, who has led the organization for nearly eight years and once brought her own children to the center before taking the helm. “We want to make sure that the space is inviting, where families feel comfortable coming here, and that we can host large functions. This is a labor of love for the community.”

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Eight-story Marriott hotel to break ground next month in Madeira Beach

Eight-story Marriott hotel to break ground next month in Madeira Beach

Two years after it was first announced, construction is set to commence on The Beachmaker, an eight-story, 161-unit Marriott Autograph Collection hotel in Madeira Beach.

Beginning in March, existing structures on the 2.5-acre site at 15000 Madeira Way will be demolished to make way for the new resort.

Over the years, the property has been home to a variety of local businesses, most recently Frabotta’s Beach Kitchen, which will close in mid-February, and Saltwater Hippie Beach Bar, which is relocating across the street to 15045 Madeira Way.

The new hotel is being spearheaded by local developer Bill Karns, who has partnered with Marcus Winters, owner of Caddy’s, and Jeff Beggins of Century 21.

Through Boca Ciega Land Co. LLC, the partners purchased the property for $13.5 million in 2022.

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Localtopia, a celebration of all things local, returns to Williams Park this weekend

Localtopia, a celebration of all things local, returns to Williams Park this weekend

Valentine’s Day weekend takes on a community vibe as Localtopia, dubbed “St. Pete’s largest celebration of all things local,” returns to Williams Park this Saturday, February 14th.

Now in its 13th year, the free event organized by Keep Saint Petersburg Local, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature more than 300 St. Pete-based businesses and live entertainment throughout the park located at 350 2nd Avenue North in downtown St. Pete.

Attendees can expect to see merchants, makers, and popular businesses, such as Sans Market, RECLAIMthreads, Pieces of a Dream Gifts, Revolution Records, NautiGirl Beachwear, The Roaming Petal, Tombolo Books, among hundreds of others.

Food vendors include Pete’s Bagels, The Twisted Indian, 4th Street Pizza, Johnny Nevada’s Tamales & Tacos, Gateway Subs, Churned Ice Cream, Kahwa Coffee, Grassroots Kava House, and Craft Kafe.

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Six-story Marriott hotel planned for Madeira Beach tweaked after city feedback

Six-story Marriott hotel planned for Madeira Beach tweaked after city feedback

New renderings offer a more detailed and colorful look at a new boutique hotel planned for Madeira Beach.

Local developer Bill Karns, who is also leading the Madeira Beach Town Center project, has partnered with Marcus Winters, owner of Caddy’s, to propose an 87-key hotel across from John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk.

The project is planned for the southeastern corner of 129th Avenue East and Pelican Lane on a 1.5-acre parcel owned by Karns that is currently being used as a 180-space surface parking lot.

The hotel would operate under Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, a collection of independent boutique properties designed to reflect the character and history of their surroundings.

Working with the city’s planning department, Karns and St. Petersburg-based Place Architecture revised the original design, which was announced by St. Pete Rising last July, and presented updated plans at a neighborhood meeting last November.

The initial concept called for a white, modern building with columns. The revised plan has a more traditional “fishing village” aesthetic, featuring colorful exterior paint and paneling similar to the storefronts and restaurants along the John’s Pass boardwalk.

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Whataburger returns to Tampa Bay with new Largo opening this week

Whataburger returns to Tampa Bay with new Largo opening this week

A popular Texas burger chain is making its long-awaited return to Tampa Bay this week.

Pinellas County’s only Whataburger will open Thursday, February 12th at 10150 Ulmerton Road in Largo, near Largo Mall.

The grand opening begins at 11 a.m., with free Whataburger merchandise available for the first 100 people in line.

The restaurant is also offering a free kids meal with the purchase of any Whatameal from February 12th through March 12th.

The new location will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Founded in Texas, Whataburger is known for its large, customizable burgers topped with options like bacon, avocado, jalapeños and its signature creamy pepper sauce.

Menu staples include the Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger, the Patty Melt served on Texas toast, and the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich.

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Seven-story boutique condo building The Cade launches sales on Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

Seven-story boutique condo building The Cade launches sales on Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

A new boutique condo building along Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete has officially hit the market.

St. Pete-based Backstreets Capital has launched sales for The Cade, a seven-story mid-rise building coming soon to 749 Burlington Avenue North featuring just 15 luxury residences overlooking the historic lake.

Contracts are now being accepted, and a sales gallery has opened at 600 1st Avenue North.

“The Cade was designed to feel like home the moment you arrive,” said Will Conroy, President of Backstreets Capital. “With only 15 residences, everything from the scale of the homes to the way the building functions was considered to create a highly personal living experience.”

“This is a place for people who want the privacy, space, and character of a custom home, paired with an irreplaceable lakefront location in downtown St. Petersburg,” Conroy added.

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New wine lounge Velvet Coupe to open in the EDGE District this spring

New wine lounge Velvet Coupe to open in the EDGE District this spring

A new intimate wine lounge is coming soon to the EDGE District in downtown St. Pete.

Velvet Coupe is set to open this spring at 25 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South, bringing a cozy, lounge-style wine bar to a 1,428-square-foot space formerly occupied by Baked in the Burg.

Owner and operator Dina Branham describes Velvet Coupe as a “sexy, cozy hangout” designed for lingering over a glass of wine rather than rushing in and out.

The lounge will seat roughly 30 guests in total, including an eight-to-ten-seat bar, with a mix of low tables, stools, and lounge-style seating throughout the space.

While the wine list won’t be tied to a single region, Branham says every bottle will be sustainably produced, with an emphasis on quality over quantity.

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Lucky Cup Coffee is now brewing inside the Galaxy Hotel in downtown St. Pete

Lucky Cup Coffee is now brewing inside the Galaxy Hotel in downtown St. Pete

A new coffee shop has quietly opened in downtown St. Pete, bringing house-made syrups, matcha drinks, and breakfast sandwiches to a hotel lobby near Beach Drive.

Lucky Cup Coffee Co. is located inside the Galaxy Hotel at 101 3rd Avenue North and is run by longtime friends Lauren Kirk and April Lupkey.

The café softly debuted last July, turning a longtime passion into a business for the duo.

“We both love coffee and community, and we’ve always talked about opening a coffee business together,” Lupkey told St. Pete Rising. “This feels like a natural extension of who we are.”

The name Lucky Cup Coffee Co. carries personal meaning. Lupkey, who survived a life-threatening birth complication, describes herself as a miracle baby, and the concept of gratitude and good fortune is woven throughout the brand.

Lupkey first explored a café concept in 2019 at Karma Juice Bar and Eatery in Safety Harbor, owned by her mother, Josie Barber.

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Pinellas Farmers and Flea Market finds new home at Derby Lane in St. Pete

Pinellas Farmers and Flea Market finds new home at Derby Lane in St. Pete

A popular farmers and flea market has officially made the move from Largo to St. Pete, bringing its wide mix of vendors to a new audience.

The Pinellas Farmers & Flea Market now takes place every weekend at 10490 Gandy Boulevard at Win! Derby, formerly known as Derby Lane.

The outdoor, pet-friendly market features more than 150 vendors each weekend, many of whom were longtime regulars at the former Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park before it closed in 2020.

Shoppers can browse a wide range of offerings, including fresh produce, plants, secondhand goods, and prepared foods from around the world.

The Pinellas Farmers & Flea Market is held every Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine.

Admission is free, and free parking is available for all visitors.

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Largo plans redevelopment of 14-acre municipal campus following City Hall relocation

Largo plans redevelopment of 14-acre municipal campus following City Hall relocation

The City of Largo is seeking a development partner to reimagine its longtime municipal campus into a vibrant mixed-use project.

City officials have issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting qualified development teams to submit plans for the redevelopment of the 14-acre city-owned property at 201 Highland Avenue North, a site that has served as Largo’s governmental center since 2000.

The campus currently includes Largo City Hall, the Largo Police Department, and the city’s Emergency Operations Center.

City Hall, however, is scheduled to relocate to Horizon West Bay, a new $85 million mixed-use development at 400 West Bay Drive in downtown Largo, once construction is completed later this year.

The existing City Hall building is expected to be demolished following the move. The relocation will free up approximately seven acres on the southern side of the campus.

City officials have cited the building’s age, costly repair needs, limited space for future growth, and poor storm resilience as key reasons for pursuing a new vision for the property.

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