Nitally’s Thai-Mex finds a new home…and it’s not in St. Pete

Nitally’s Thai-Mex finds a new home…and it’s not in St. Pete

Back in May, the owners of Nitally’s took to Facebook to announce the closure of their popular Thai-Mex fusion restaurant at 2462 Central Avenue in Downtown St. Pete. News traveled quickly thanks to Nitally’s cult-like following. After all, where else in town can you go to get a green curry burrito or panang mole?

Owners Nit Jintaseranee and Ally Valdez have spent the last 10 years building an audience for their own brand of cuisine. But unfortunately for them, the decision to shut down was out of their hands. Their building had been sold and the new owners chose to go in a different direction.

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Ice Cream and Booze Collide at Beans and Barlour, Coming to Downtown St Pete

Ice Cream and Booze Collide at Beans and Barlour, Coming to Downtown St Pete

I might be in trouble. Two of my favorite indulgences are about to make a head-on collision — ice cream and alcohol. In a first for Tampa Bay, a brand new craft coffee bar and dessert lounge is bringing alcohol-infused ice cream to Downtown St Pete’s Central Arts District.

Beans & Barlour (yes, Barlour) will be located at 538 1st Avenue North, flanked by St. Pete Brewing Company and Angelo’s Grill and Bar. The new restaurant concept is being brought to life by Story Stuart, former owner of Story Brooke Craft Coffee Bar in the Old Southeast, and business partner Steve Bliven.

“The food scene downtown is booming right now with new restaurants opening on what seems like a weekly basis,” says Stuart. “We saw a huge opportunity to compliment them with a dessert concept that is brand new to the Tampa Bay Area.” 

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St. Pete’s Coast Bike Share Gains Momentum In Year Two

St. Pete’s Coast Bike Share Gains Momentum In Year Two

In 2015, St. Pete had a vision to bring bike share to downtown and nearly two years later, in February 2017, a blue fleet of 300 bikes launched at over 30 stations. But seeing bike share come to fruition was no easy feat. It took months of outreach and hours of public input to develop a system that was right for St. Pete.

Now, with one year of service under its belt, Coast is moving full steam ahead, and is using data from its first year of operations to improve and better serve the community. Last week, Coast presented its One Year Report to City Council and revealed some of the numbers behind the operation.

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St. Pete Developer Becomes Florida’s First Real Estate Development B Corp

St. Pete Developer Becomes Florida’s First Real Estate Development B Corp

Real estate developers are often criticized for not respecting the fabric of existing communities and for being too profit-driven. It is these issues, among others, that often lead to neighborhood groups and residents opposing new development, particularly when a project is being proposed by an out-of-town developer. 

But one local developer hopes to change these notions by giving back to the community and encouraging other businesses to do the same. Salt Palm Development, located at 3446 1st Avenue North in St. Pete, was recently certified as the first B Corp real estate development company in the southeastern United States. 

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Key West Taco Joint to Debut on the 600 Block

Key West Taco Joint to Debut on the 600 Block

The 600 block of Downtown St. Pete continues its transformation into a foodie destination. Amigos Tortilla Bar, a Mexican restaurant that bills itself as the “Home of the Square Taco” will occupy two parcels located at 681 Central Avenue that have sat vacant for nearly a year and a half.

Owners Jack Anderson, Jesse Anderson and Eric Sindone opened up the only other Amigos location in Key West in 2010. The trio had always wanted to expand, but decided to patiently wait for the right opportunity. That opportunity presented itself when former Amigo's manager, Samuel Haverl, moved to St. Pete three years ago. Haverl will share ownership in the St. Pete location.

“We’re all very excited to see what’s happening in this city and are very much looking forward to being a part of it,” says Haverl. The St. Pete location will only serve lunch and dinner at first, but breakfast may be offered down the road. 

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