Daddy Kool Records to close on 600 block, reopen in Warehouse Arts District

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Daddy Kool Records to close on 600 block, reopen in Warehouse Arts District

Well, we had a feeling this was coming. Today, at Localtopia, Daddy Kool announced the closing of their 600 block record store. Fortunately, they’ll be reopening in a larger location off of the Pinellas Trail at 2430 Terminal Drive in the Warehouse Arts District.

The original Daddy Kool opened in in Bradenton in 1985 by Gaeano “Tony” Rifugiato, a concert promoter with No Clubs Presents. After instant success, the shop relocated to Sarasota, where it stayed for 15 years before moving to Downtown St. Petersburg’s 600 block.

Since opening in 1999, Daddy Kool has become a staple of not just the 600 block, but all of Downtown St Pete. It’s was originally located just down the street from the city’s historic State Theatre, which is currently undergoing a million dollar renovation, and also host to many of Rifugiato’s No Clubs concerts.

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Downtown St. Pete Tavern, The Galley, to Open Cocktail Bar in March

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Downtown St. Pete Tavern, The Galley, to Open Cocktail Bar in March

In 2016, Pete Boland and Ian Taylor opened The Galley, a nautical-themed tavern, at 27 Fourth Street North in Downtown St. Pete. At the time, the location was a risk due its proximity to Williams Park, which had earned a reputation for being a homeless hangout. However, being St. Petersburg natives, Boland and Taylor felt an obligation to help clean up the corner. 

And it worked! Over time, the PSTA bus hub relocated, WiFi was added, and the mayor started a monthly food truck rally in the park. Although there is still work to be done to clean up Williams Park, great strides have been made over the past few years. No doubt the opening of The Galley helped catalyze these efforts.

It didn’t take long for The Galley to become a favorite among locals either. “I pop by often, for lunch, meetings, or a quick pilsners-and-policy chat with other patrons,” said Councilwoman Gina Driscoll. “It’s such a popular neighborhood spot sometimes I have trouble finding a seat!” In fact, you’ll occasionally find me at the bar enjoying the cuban sandwich, fried ravioli and a frosty Guinness.

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Kolter Group Reveals Second Condo Project in Downtown St. Pete

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Kolter Group Reveals Second Condo Project in Downtown St. Pete

When the 41-story ONE St. Petersburg project was announced in June 2014, it was billed as a catalyst project for Downtown St. Pete. The CEO of the Kolter Group and developer behind the project, Bobby Julien, was quoted as saying, “[St. Pete’s] downtown is emerging as one of the nation's special urban centers, and we are excited to be a part of its future.”

But despite Julien’s excitement, many wondered whether St. Pete was ready for a project of this magnitude. How would these units be received in the market?

Back then there was a sense of emergence, a feeling that Downtown St. Pete was on the brink of something special in the creation of a livable and workable urban center. In 2014, it wasn’t quite there yet, but it was close.

Flash forward nearly five years later and construction is just wrapping up on 450 foot tower, now the city’s tallest building. Every single one of its 253 condominium residences sold out over six months before completion, and many have hit the resale market, some with nearly 42% premiums. 

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Elements on Third Brings New Residents to Historic Kenwood

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Elements on Third Brings New Residents to Historic Kenwood

Located just west of Downtown St. Pete, Historic Kenwood has always been a place of community with charming bungalows, front porches, and tree-lined streets. As Downtown St. Pete has grown over the years, so has the demand for housing in and around the neighborhood. In 2016, a report noted Historic Kenwood’s zip code as being one of the hottest areas in Tampa Bay for house flipping.

Especially in the western portion of neighborhood, the change could not be more evident. While the western side of Historic Kenwood, specifically south of 5th Avenue North and west of 31st Street, is primarily commercial properties, the rest of the neighborhood predominantly consists of single-family homes.

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City of St. Pete Seeks Proposals for Prime Central Avenue Block

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City of St. Pete Seeks Proposals for Prime Central Avenue Block

A city-owned Central Avenue block may soon be sold for redevelopment. Yesterday, the City of St. Pete released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase and development of a property located at 1300 1st Avenue North. The site is currently home to the St. Pete Police Department headquarters, which was originally built in the 1950’s and expanded in the 1970’s. A new 170,000 square foot headquarters is currently under construction across the street at 1301 1st Avenue North and will open later this year. 

The two-acre site recently appraised for $6.6 million and sits in the middle of the EDGE District, one of Downtown St. Pete’s fastest growing neighborhoods. According to the EDGE District Master Plan, which was released in December 2016, this parcel has the potential to be a catalyst project — attracting additional development and serving as an end cap for a future Baum Avenue pedestrian streetscape.

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Plant+Love Ice Cream Starts Churning in the EDGE District

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Plant+Love Ice Cream Starts Churning in the EDGE District

Less than six months ago, Matthew Matchin was working on opening a vegan ice cream shop in Charlotte, NC when he received a call from a high school friend in Pennsylvania. 

“Hey I’m driving down to St. Pete to visit Matt! I’ll be passing right through Charlotte. Do you want to come hang out with us for a few days?”

Always down for a new adventure, Matchin agreed. Ten days after returning home to Charlotte, he bought a one-way ticket back to St. Pete. “I absolutely love this city,” says Matchin. “When I visited, I realized how active the vegan community is here. And I also noticed there were no vegan ice cream shops. Not to mention the weather — it’s warm year-round and perfect for ice cream.”

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Blue Lotus to Rise 19-Stories at 100 4th Ave N in Downtown St. Pete

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Blue Lotus to Rise 19-Stories at 100 4th Ave N in Downtown St. Pete

Downtown St. Pete’s urban core continues to expand with the introduction of the Blue Lotus condominiums at the southwest corner of 4th Avenue North and 1st Street North. Arclight Development Group is proposing a 19-story boutique high-rise which will feature 18 residential units including a three level penthouse. 

The project is proposed for the site of a 24-story condominium concept which was shot down by the Development Review Commission and City Council earlier this year. Since that setback, developer Michel Regignano has worked to envision a project that is more compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

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Downtown St Pete is in for a Treat at Valhalla Bakery

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Downtown St Pete is in for a Treat at Valhalla Bakery

A few weeks ago, Celine Duvoisin walked down Central Avenue with a handful of flyers and a box filled with decadent desserts. As she handed out cookies, cakes, and other sweets to unsuspecting businesses, she let them in on an another exciting surprise: Valhalla Bakery has arrived in Downtown St. Pete.

You can find St. Pete’s newest bakery at 1113 Central Avenue inside Baum Avenue Market, which also houses two other food concepts — Serene and Avocado Valley. Serene is a wellness bar featuring smoothies, smoothie bowls, and wellness lattes. Avocado Valley is a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-influenced eatery that utilizes fresh healthful ingredients.

This is the second location for Valhalla Bakery, which debuted in Orlando in 2015. Over the past three years, Valhalla has evolved from selling out at farmers markets to opening up two storefronts and twice being crowned Orlando’s Best Bakery. 

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21-Story Residential Building Proposed Near Mirror Lake in Downtown St. Pete

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21-Story Residential Building Proposed Near Mirror Lake in Downtown St. Pete

A 21-story residential tower has been proposed for the southeast corner of 3rd Avenue North and 5th Street North across from the Mirror Lake Community Library. According to site plan review documents submitted to the city, the proposed building will be 250 feet in height with 270 residential units and nearly 11,000 square feet of office space. 

Currently, the site is home to 100 apartments which are scattered across six buildings. The documents submitted to the city note that the existing buildings were previously analyzed for consideration to be added to the List of Eligible Properties for potential historic designation. However after review it was determined by the city that the existing buildings did not meet the criteria for historic designation.

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‘Tru by Hilton’ Hotel Coming to St. Pete’s Grand Central District

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‘Tru by Hilton’ Hotel Coming to St. Pete’s Grand Central District

When visiting Downtown St. Pete,  whether it be for business or pleasure, odds are that travelers will choose stay either in a hotel in the downtown core, such as the Hyatt Place, or in a hotel along Beach Drive, like the Vinoy or Hampton Inn. While these hotels vary in size and style, they have one thing in common: they are relatively close to the waterfront. 

For years, tourism in downtown has revolved around the waterfront with draws such as our world-class waterfront park system, picturesque cafes along Beach Drive, and nationally-recognized museums. These draws have led to new hotels, like the under construction Galaxy Hotel, in addition to numerous hotel renovation projects. 

But with the growth of Downtown St. Pete and the western expansion of shops and restaurants along Central Avenue, more of downtown is becoming the destination. 

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