May 04, 2026

Public Q&A offers clearer look at competing visions for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete

May 04, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Developers vying to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete made their first public pitch last Thursday at the Coliseum, as the City of St. Petersburg hosted an open house featuring presentations from the four shortlisted teams: ARK Ellison Horus, The Burg Bid, Foundation Vision Partners, and the Pinellas County Housing Authority.

Each group walked through its vision for the site before taking questions from attendees, offering a more direct look at how their proposals could take shape.

Much of what was presented has already been detailed in the teams’ formal submissions, which have been covered previously.

The more revealing portion of the event came during the Q&A, where developers addressed topics ranging from affordability and economic opportunity to phasing, infrastructure, and long-term community impact.

Mayor Ken Welch is expected to select one or more teams to move forward with in June, even as the St. Petersburg City Council recently voted 6-2 to pause the process.

The entire two hour event can be seen on YouTube. The City is requesting resident’s feedback on the presentations here.

Below is the Q&A session, which has been edited for clarity and length.

May 04, 2026

Shipley Do-Nuts to open first St. Pete shop on 4th Street North, replacing Starbucks

May 04, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Shipley Do-Nuts, a classic no-frills Texas donut shop known for fresh, handmade treats and kolaches, is coming to St. Pete.

The chain will open at 4946 4th Street North in a space formerly occupied by Starbucks, which closed in late 2025 as part of a nationwide initiative to shutter stores lacking drive-thrus.

Shipley’s offers more than 40 varieties of donuts alongside kolaches, a beloved Texas pastry made with fluffy, slightly sweet dough and stuffed with a variety of savory fillings.

Shipley’s donut menu centers on its classic glazed along with a wide range flavors like chocolate, strawberry, cherry, vanilla, and maple, as well as varieties paired with sprinkles, coconut, or nuts.

There are also a selection of filled donuts, with creams and fruit jellies, alongside denser cake donuts in flavors like buttermilk and blueberry.

Shipley also has donut holes, apple fritters, bear claws, and cinnamon rolls.

May 01, 2026

Jackson’s Gastropub is now open, bringing New Orleans fare to south St. Pete

May 01, 2026/ Kyla Fields

A new sports bar and neighborhood pub quietly opened its doors in south St. Pete last week.

Jackson’s, a new 3,840 square-feet restaurant, recently made its debut at 1700 34th Street South, just south of Gibbs High School and across from the newly opened Yo-Mama Fried Chicken.

It’s the newest eatery from local restaurateur Dan Soronen, who has owned and operated restaurants in St. Pete since 2005.

He says that Jackson’s offers affordable, quality food in a casual environment.

“I live in South St. Petersburg, and there’s always talk about the area being a food desert for shopping centers and grocery stores. But on top of that, we really don't really have a lot of quality restaurants in the area,” Soronen tells St. Pete Rising. “So we wanted to open a chef-driven sports bar for everyone that lives here.”

With a full-liquor bar and a sizable dining room that seats over 100 people, he hopes Jackson’s will fill the need for a locally owned, family-friendly sports bar in the area, noting that new residents in the booming Skyway Marina District need a go-to neighborhood spot.

May 01, 2026

An intimate 45-seat speakeasy, 31 South, opens this weekend at St. Petersburg Distillery in the Warehouse Arts District

May 01, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

St. Petersburg Distillery is expanding into the evening hours with a new speakeasy inside its Warehouse Arts District campus.

Tucked inside the distillery’s industrial warehouse at 800 31st Street South, a secluded second-floor space has been reworked into an intimate, 45-seat speakeasy that opens today at 6 p.m.

“This is when people want to come together and socialize, from six o’clock to midnight,” CEO Evan Brownstein said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

The space, called 31 South, sits above the distillery’s production floor, where guests typically end their tours.

What was once a simple tasting area has been redesigned into a swanky lounge with dim mood lighting, vintage furnishings, a mix of gold and green accents, and jazz music playing overhead.

“The tours are all about educating our guests. We want this space to be where they can socialize and relax,” Brownstein said. “It’ll be a hidden gem within a hidden gem.”

The redesign was led by marketing coordinator Meridian Joy-Piper and VP of Operations Kylie Judge, who sourced much of the furniture and decor locally and incorporated historic photos throughout the space.

April 30, 2026

Authentic New York bagels are coming to Largo with Two Daughters’ summer opening

April 30, 2026/ Kyla Fields

Two Daughters Bagels, a locally-owned and operated breakfast spot, is bringing New York bagels to Largo.

Owner Justin Miller plans to open his new bagel shop this summer at 10593 Ulmerton Road, across the street from the Largo Mall.

The space was formerly home to Miracle Mobility, a retailer specializing in electric wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

He signed the lease last August and has been tirelessly renovating the shop ever since.

“This is a life-long dream of mine. I’ve always wanted to open a legitimate New York bagel shop—not just ‘New York-style,’” Miller tells St. Pete Rising. “I wasn’t satisfied with any of the other bagels in the area, and was determined I could do it better. And so I learned how by reverse engineering the process.”

April 30, 2026

Historically St. Pete: The legacy of M.B. Welch, a lesser-known builder who helped shape St. Pete during the 1920s boom

April 30, 2026/ Rui Farias

At St. Pete Rising, we are constantly providing comprehensive coverage on everything new and coming soon to the Sunshine City, but we think it’s also important to take a look back at our city's rich history.

Historically St. Pete, a monthly column on St. Pete Rising written by Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History Rui Farias, covers everything from the legend of underground mobster tunnels to the buildings and people that created the Sunshine City.

This month, we look back at the legacy of M.B. Welch, a lesser-known developer who built more than 300 homes and several apartment buildings during St. Petersburg’s 1920s boom, many of which still stand today.

April 29, 2026

Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters to open cafe and roastery in the Grand Central District this summer

April 29, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Local coffee company Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters is preparing to move into its first standalone café and production space in the Grand Central District.

For the past two years, Sun Bear has operated out of Sans Market, a zero-waste store at 1037 Central Avenue in the EDGE District.

That setup helped owner Kenny Beers build a loyal following, but space constraints have limited what he could offer.

This summer, Sun Bear will relocate to a larger, permanent storefront and roasting facility at 1942 1st Avenue South, next to Pinellas Ale Works.

The 2,650-square-foot building was previously home to Adieu-glu, a gluten-free bakery.

April 29, 2026

St. Pete eyes $600 million resiliency bond to tackle flooding and harden city infrastructure

April 29, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Heavy rainfall and storm surge have exposed serious vulnerabilities in St. Pete's aging infrastructure over the years, and the city is now asking whether a $600 million bond is the right tool to fix it faster.

Last Thursday, the City's Budget, Finance, and Taxation Committee discussed placing a General Obligation (GO) bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot.

The proceeds would fund a portion of projects under the St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) program, a city-led initiative to accelerate flood protection, stormwater improvements, and utility system hardening before the next major storm arrives.

The $2.7 billion SPAR program, which will be set up regardless of a potential November referendum, will be funded through utility fees.

Without the bond, that work gets spread over 24 years through fiscal year 2050 as utility revenue accumulates.

April 28, 2026

Five affordable homes proposed for city-owned land on 18th Avenue South

April 28, 2026/ Brian Zucker

An unsolicited proposal submitted to the City of St. Pete could bring a small cluster of permanently affordable homes to a vacant site in south St. Pete.

Bright Community Trust is requesting the donation of four city-owned parcels at 2013 18th Avenue South, where it plans to develop five cottage-style homes targeted to income-restricted buyers.

Each home would include two bedrooms, one bathroom, and roughly 900 square feet of living space.

Plans also call for a shared green space, nine parking spaces, and individual lot configurations that would allow each home to function as its own property.

The city’s willingness to consider the unsolicited proposal has triggered a formal Notice of Intent to Dispose of City-Owned Real Estate, which was published to the city’s website last week.

That notice opens the door for other developers or nonprofits to submit competing proposals for the property.

Interested parties have until Friday, May 22nd at 12 p.m. to submit an alternative proposal for the lease, purchase, or development of the site.

April 28, 2026

Construction begins on The Cade, a seven-story boutique condo building overlooking Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

April 28, 2026/ Brian Zucker

Construction is underway on a new boutique condo building overlooking Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete.

St. Pete-based Backstreets Capital has officially broken ground on The Cade, a seven-story residential project planned for 749 Burlington Avenue North featuring just 15 luxury residences overlooking the historic lake.

The project has seen strong early sales demand, with 40% of residences already under contract since sales launched two months ago.

“The response to The Cade has validated what we set out to create,” said Will Conroy, President of Backstreets Capital. “With construction now underway and nearly half the residences already spoken for, it’s clear there is strong demand for a more refined, residential experience in our downtown.”

“The Cade is perfect for people who want the privacy, space, and character of a custom home, paired with an irreplaceable lakefront location,” Conroy added.