February 02, 2021

Duo from Italy opening authentic Neapolitan pizzeria and wine bar in downtown St. Pete

February 02, 2021/ Stephanie Stott

What do a queen and pizza dough have to do with St. Pete, Florida?
Answer: an upcoming pizzeria and wine bar aptly named Original Flavor 1889.

Soon, you won’t have to go far to get a slice of an Italian classic, the Neapolitan pizza, which is characterized by a super thin base with a crispy but light and airy crust. Thanks to Melissa Mihok at Barkett Realty, who represented the landlord, Original Flavor will be coming soon to 409 Central Avenue, which was formerly home to Bombay Grill.

The new pizzeria will be brimming with tradition – all the way down to the prep work. Made only with imported ingredients, every splash of flavor honors an authentic taste. And while you’re rejoicing over unprocessed food, there’s a history lesson happening on the other side of the bar.

February 01, 2021

Zubrick Magic Theatre reveals plans to open in downtown St. Pete this Summer

February 01, 2021/ Brian Zucker

St. Pete is already a magical place. We enjoy some of the best weather in the world, our city supports local businesses as if it was a religion, and the people here are the friendliest you’ll ever met. But the Sunshine City is about to get a lot more magical.

Award-winning illusionists, Chris and Ryan Zubrick, will be opening the Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Pete this summer.

After a successful 13-year run overseas, where the duo performed over 7,500 shows for more than 2 million people, Chris and Ryan decided to bring their astonishing brand of magic and grand illusion back to the mainland.

January 29, 2021

A Year of Rising: Here’s What’s Planned for Downtown St. Pete in 2021

January 29, 2021/ Brian Zucker

After 2020 seemed like a never-ending year, we are optimistic about what 2021 will bring for St. Pete. There is no doubt that COVID-19 had, and will continue to have, an impact on commercial real estate all over the United States -- and St. Pete is no exception. Last year several developments in downtown St. Pete were paused, put on hold, or cancelled entirely due to the impact of the COVID-19. However, despite the pandemic, there has continued to be developer interest in the area and we expect downtown St. Pete to fare well in 2021.

This year, after much delay, the Museum of the American Arts of Crafts Movement (MAACM) should open the public. The 5-story $90 million museum was slated to open in 2020, but COVID-19 caused delays in the production construction materials needed for completion. Once open, the MAACM will be the only in the world dedicated to the historic American Arts and Crafts Movement. The museum will feature a multi-story atrium, a circular staircase, 40,000 square feet of gallery space, and a 9,000-square-foot destination restaurant.

January 28, 2021

The Twisted Indian is opening a restaurant in the Grand Central District

January 28, 2021/ Amy Kochek

If you are a regular at the bustling Saturday Morning Market (pre-COVID) or found yourself popping into what once was Baum Avenue Market in the EDGE District, the name “The Twisted Indian,” should bring a warm smile to your face. But as outdoor markets and food trucks were put on hold and Baum Avenue Market transitioned into single tenant space occupied by Karma Juice Bar and Eatery, the delicious Indian fare seemed to almost disappear in an instant.

Well, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief as we gear up to welcome The Twisted Indian into its first brick and mortar location at 2639 Central Avenue, which is slated to host its grand opening in April.

January 27, 2021

Seven proposals revealed for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Tropicana Field site

January 27, 2021/ Anthony Close

Yesterday, the City of St. Petersburg and Mayor Kriseman released seven submissions of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site in downtown St. Pete.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Mayor Kriseman also reported on recent discussions the City has had with the Rays. Owner Stu Sternberg had pitched a plan to Kriseman in which city would transfer 50 acres situated to the east of Booker Creek to the team at no charge.

Sternberg also requested that the Rays retain 50% of the development proceeds for the remaining 36 acres located west of Booker Creek.

"If we were to accept this, we would have to reject all of the responses to the RFPs," Kriseman said. "Of even greater concern is the moment the city turns control over to the Rays, the city loses all ability and authority to ensure the community’s voice is heard."

January 14, 2021

EDGE District hotel is dead, but a new proposal has emerged

January 14, 2021/ Brian Zucker

Back in October 2018, St. Pete Rising broke the news about an 11-story Marriott Tribute hotel that was to be built in the EDGE District at the corner of 11th Street and 1st Avenue North. The 135-key hotel was proposed by Michigan-based DevMar Development, whose first residential project in St. Pete, Vantage, began move-in’s in May 2020.

DevMar Development closed on the hotel site in January 2020 for $3 million. But unfortunately, due to COVID-19, hotel financing has all but dried up. As a result, DevMar has scrapped plans for the boutique hotel.

January 12, 2021

Aerial St. Pete: Multi-family projects make progress and a two-story brewery is born!

January 12, 2021/ Brian Zucker

We’re back with a new batch of drone shots for the year’s first installment of Aerial St. Pete, a quarterly column which features exclusive aerial photography of projects under construction in St. Petersburg, FL. To accomplish this, we have teamed up with Anthony Bove at AB3 Visuals.

This quarter we are taking a look at five projects in the greater downtown St. Pete area including: Gallery 3100, Grand Central Brewhouse, Saltaire, and The Mirror. This is second time we shot three of these projects, so be sure to check out their individual project pages to see the progress that has been made.

January 11, 2021

The rise of the MLK Business District and how to connect bifurcated St. Pete districts

January 11, 2021/ Guest

The MLK Business District, particularly the stretch of MLK Jr. St. N between 5th Ave. and 7th Ave. N, is home to some of St. Pete’s favorite shops, restaurants, and places to spend an afternoon. However, it wasn’t always a bustling hub of activity—it’s taken over a decade of hard work from community leaders, business owners, and city officials to curate this district.

John Barkett, MAI, was one of the first business owners to join this area, and he has worked closely with public officials, business owners, and community organizations to curate a district that meets the needs of St. Pete’s residents—and continues to work to evolve the area.

January 08, 2021

Belpointe proposes 15-story, 256-unit development for St. Pete’s EDGE District

January 08, 2021/ Anthony Close

A new multifamily building has been proposed for the EDGE District in downtown St. Pete.

In October 2020, Belpointe, which invests in opportunity zones, closed on 1.6 acres at 1000 1st Avenue North for $12 million. The site is currently home to two small vacant office buildings, two surface parking lots and the former Shirley Ann Hotel, which has been vacant for three years.

Belpointe has announced plans for a development tentatively being referred to as 1000 1st Avenue North featuring two, 11-story apartment towers with a combined 256 rental units. The residential buildings will sit atop a four-story, pedestrian base that features 23,000 square feet of ground floor retail and 4,400 square feet of space for a leasing office and two resident lobbies.

January 06, 2021

Micromobility, a good fit for St Pete!

January 06, 2021/ Guest

Love them or hate them, the scooters have arrived in downtown St. Pete! While it may be too early to say whether this new form of shared transportation is an amenity or a nuisance, they represent only one example of an emerging form of transportation known as micromobility. Cities around the world are scrambling to figure out how to accommodate this growing trend in mobility which has accelerated during the pandemic. Given our great weather and multiple downtown destinations, frequented by residents and tourists alike, St. Petersburg is a natural fit for micromobility. But to fully realize its potential, there is work to be done. We need to rethink and “tame” our car-dominated downtown streets so that all forms of mobility can share the road.