October 13, 2020

How to keep St. Pete local and navigate retail leasing in a post-COVID world

October 13, 2020/ Guest

When thinking about how to continue to support St. Pete’s small businesses during the economic tough times in the aftermath of COVID-19, the average consumer repeats to themselves the phrase we hear so often: ”Shop Local.”

John Barkett, owner of Barkett Realty, a local real estate brokerage firm, has been involved in some of St. Pete’s most successful neighborhoods like The EDGE, Grand Central, and MLK Districts. Barkett has worked hard to ensure their continued success through the pandemic. In order to help keep the vibrancy of these neighborhoods alive, Barkett shares a few words of advice for landlords, brokers, and small business owners who may be dealing with uncertainty during COVID-19.

October 06, 2020

83-unit infill apartment buildings to rise in downtown St. Pete

October 06, 2020/ Anthony Close

About a year ago, St. Pete City Council approved a package of Land Development Regulation (LDR) changes in an effort to help reduce the cost of building housing in the city. The package of code changes was just one prong in a multifaceted approach to help address housing affordability in the Sunshine City.

One of the approved code changes was the removal of mandatory parking minimums for residential units under 750 square feet in downtown St. Pete. Mandatory parking minimums are development regulations which require a certain number of vehicular parking spaces per residential unit.

There’s a growing body of evidence that mandatory parking minimums come at an immense cost to the cities that implement them.

A 2015 study even estimated that the cost of a single parking space in a structured garage increases residential rent by $225 per month.

September 28, 2020

Owners of Bacon Bitch to open a second restaurant in downtown St. Pete

September 28, 2020/ Brian Zucker

A few weeks ago, we broke the news on Bacon Bitch, a breakfast and brunch spot, coming to St. Pete’s EDGE District. We’ve now learned that not only is Bacon Bitch moving into the former Bodega location at 1120 Central Avenue, but another Queen’s Hospitality concept will be joining the party as well.

Get ready to indulge in The Chicken Spot, where chicken sandwiches are king of the coop.

As with Bacon Bitch, The Chicken Spot has one other location on South Beach in Miami. However, despite their South Florida roots, the owners want to contribute to what makes St. Pete special.

September 25, 2020

Florida’s first Goan restaurant, Avo’s Kitchen, debuts in downtown St. Pete

September 25, 2020/ Anthony Close

When Iberian Rooster opened at 475 Central Avenue in late 2016, it introduced cuisine from the former colonies of Portugal to downtown St. Pete. But the concept, which offered an overwhelming range of foreign flavors, turned out to be a bit confusing. There were dishes from Brazil, India, Mozambique, Goa, and Macau, among others.

When owner Russell Andrade was conceptualizing Iberian Rooster he intended to create a restaurant that focused on the food he grew up eating. But as his vision expanded so did the menu and Iberian Rooster’s offerings became a smorgasbord of cuisine.

And so, as a result of COVID-19 and the desire to develop a distinct identity, Andrade has returned to his roots and revamped Iberian Rooster’s food offerings into an entirely new concept — Avo’s Kitchen. The new fast-casual restaurant serves food from only one region, Goa, a state on the Arabian Sea in southwestern India.

September 22, 2020

Stock market-themed bar, Whiskey Exchange, opens in downtown St. Pete

September 22, 2020/ Brianna Rodriguez

After months of enjoying your at-home cocktails, bars have finally reopened in Florida. Although every bar may feel new right now, one downtown St. Pete bar is truly opening for the first time.

The opening bell has finally rung at Whiskey Exchange, a stock market themed bar, located at 540 Central Avenue, formerly home to The Classy Closet.

Yes, you read that correctly. A stock market-themed bar. Similar to how stocks in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ go up and down in value throughout the day, drink prices at Whiskey Exchange fluctuate based on supply and demand. For instance, if a certain drink is flying off the shelves, the price will go up. On the other hand, if very few patrons are buying it, the price will drop.

September 18, 2020

Speakeasy Kava to open in St. Pete's Grand Central District

September 18, 2020/ Anthony Close

A popular kava bar in Largo will soon open an outpost on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District. Speakeasy Kava is expected to serve the South Pacific Island drink, along with its partner, kratom, at 2101 Central Avenue.

Kava is an herbal beverage that is consumed socially for its calming and euphoric properties.

Over the last few years, the kava community in St. Petersburg has blossomed into one of the largest in the nation. So much so that in 2018 the Tampa Bay Times declared St. Petersburg the “kava capital of the continental United States.”

September 15, 2020

Affordable housing development, Skyway Lofts, breaks ground in St. Pete

September 15, 2020/ Brian Zucker

Nearly 1,000 people are moving to Florida every single day. This mass migration is partially due to Coronavirus but is also a result of the favorable tax climate we enjoy in Florida compared to some of the northern states, such as New York and New Jersey.

With the addition of beautiful beaches and being home to the most vibrant downtown in the state, it’s no surprise why Pinellas County, and especially St. Petersburg, is a popular place for out-of-state transplants.

However, one of the major byproducts of an influx of new residents is a dwindling supply of housing. And as a result, we’ve seen home values and rental rates rise quite significantly.

One Tampa-based affordable housing developer is trying to tackle the housing affordability issue in Florida. “Our mission is to help local governments and non-profits meet their affordable housing goals,” says Scott Macdonald, Executive Vice President and CFO of Blue Sky Communities.

September 14, 2020

Reflection, an 18-story condo tower, launches sales in downtown St. Pete

September 14, 2020/ Anthony Close

Sales have officially kicked off for a new condominium project planned near Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete. Known as Reflection, the 18-story tower was announced in January and is proposed for the northwest corner of 3rd Avenue North and 8th Street.

Reflection will feature 88 residences along with 3,300 square feet of ground floor retail space.

Units in the building will range from 1,200 square feet to 2,300 square feet with between one and three bedrooms. Pricing is set to begin in the $500,000’s, which is about 20% lower than Beach Drive prices, and will rise to over $1 million. That pricing is attainable because of the project’s location west of the downtown core, an area which has seen an increase in development activity in recent years.

September 11, 2020

Dal Moro’s to cook up fresh pasta to-go in downtown St. Pete

September 11, 2020/ Jennifer Stott

When in need of a quick meal, your instinct is probably to search for the nearest drive-thru. The last thing to come to mind would be a hearty serving of pasta. But now, with Dal Moro’s coming to St. Pete in October, you can have your linguini -- and eat it, too.

Dal Moro's, which originated in Venice, took flight to Ottawa and Toronto. Now, for its American debut, it's set to land on St. Pete's doorstep, at 653 Central Ave, formerly home to Graphi-ko Decor. Thanks to Joe Esposito of KW Commercial, who represented both the tenant and landlord in the deal, you’ll soon be able to stuff your face with the carbohydrate creation of your dreams.

September 10, 2020

Finalists selected for the redevelopment of MSC building in downtown St. Pete

September 10, 2020/ Anthony Close

The redevelopment of St. Pete’s Municipal Services Center (MSC) has taken another step forward with the selection of two finalists – Allen Morris and a joint proposal by Echelon, LLC and Third Lake Capital.

Last December, the City of St. Pete received an unsolicited proposal from New York-based development firm Property Markets Group (PMG) to purchase and redevelop the MSC at 1 Fourth Street in downtown St. Pete. In order to redevelop the site, a new MSC building would be constructed on a city-owned parking lot on 2nd Avenue North. This unsolicited offer prompted the city to release a Notice of Intent to Sell, inviting any alternative proposals from private developers to purchase the existing MSC.