February 22, 2021

Beloved beer bar and café, Hops and Props, finds a new location in downtown St. Pete

February 22, 2021/ Brian Zucker

On August 15th of last year, Lucy Ziegler received a devastating letter. Hops and Props’ lease at the St. Pete Museum of History would not be renewed. The beer bar and café that had been a staple of downtown St. Pete since 2014 would have to find a new home.

“It was really tough,” says Ziegler. “After running a business behind the construction fence of the St. Pete Pier for two years, and then enduring a shutdown from the pandemic, we thought we could see the light at the end of the tunnel. But instead, we were told to pack up and leave.”

Luckily, Ziegler and her son, Eric Starr, have found a home for their new business, Hops 2.0, at 225 2nd Avenue North in downtown St. Pete. The 3,500 square foot space was formerly occupied by Pour Taproom, which closed in September 2020.

February 19, 2021

Shell Dash Townhomes will provide affordability and historic preservation to Campbell Park

February 19, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

On Thursday, the St Petersburg City Council unanimously approved a lease and development agreement between the City and Exact Shell Dash LLC to develop an affordable and energy efficient townhome project at 1120 16th Street South in the Campbell Park neighborhood of St. Pete.

The $2.5 million project will feature ten homes, including the historic Shell Dash Cottage, which will be relocated to the site from its original location at 856 2nd Avenue North near Mirror Lake. Once the move is complete, the Shell Dash Cottage will be renovated into a two bedroom, two bath live-work unit and be proposed for designation to the St Petersburg Register of Historic Places.

The remaining nine units will be newly constructed concrete block townhomes built in the traditional bungalow style. Each three bed, two bath unit will be approximately 1,277 square feet and include a front porch, contemporary landscaping, large windows, and a chef-inspired kitchen.

February 16, 2021

Driftwood on Central breaks ground on mixed-use townhomes in Grand Central District

February 16, 2021/ Anthony Close

A mixed-use townhome development in St. Pete’s Grand Central District has broken ground. Construction begins today on Driftwood on Central, which is being built at the northeast corner of Central Avenue and 29th Street.

Located adjacent to China Finders, Driftwood on Central is being developed by St. Pete Development Company which is headed by Julie Kessel. Nick Janovsky, Sales & Development Director at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, is leading sales of the project.

The development will have eleven residential units across two buildings ranging between three and four stories. A building fronting Central Avenue will feature five residential units, all of which include ground floor retail space. These are perfect for entrepreneurs or professionals who need commercial studio space or desire a live-work setting.

February 15, 2021

The Job Site Stuffed Burgers opens this week in the Grand Central District

February 15, 2021/ Amy Kochek

A new burger spot called The Job Site will have a soft opening at the end of this week at 2063 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. The space was formerly occupied by Evil Don Tattoos, which moved a few doors down to 17 21st Street North.

The Job Site is blessing our food community with custom, stuffed burgers! You heard us right – stuffed burgers!

This fun and innovative restaurant has an array of stuffing options that you can have cooked into your massive burger such as shrimp, plantains, chopped bacon, spinach, pineapple, ham, a variety of cheeses, and so much more. You can stuff as many items into your burger as your stomach, wallet, and the width of your mouth can handle.

February 11, 2021

Reflection, a proposed 18-story condo tower in St. Pete, is over 40% sold

February 11, 2021/ Anthony Close

Downtown St. Pete’s Reflection condominium project continues to move toward ground breaking.

The 81-unit tower, which is proposed for the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue North and 8th Street, has surpassed $30 million in sales with reservations accounting for over 40% of the building.

Reflection is being developed by a team led by Fred Hemmer, a veteran of the real estate industry, along with local businessmen Chad Horne, Nick Hansen, and Angelo Cappelli. The group is under contract to purchase a parking lot which is currently owned and used by BridgePoint Church.

February 09, 2021

St. Pete Community Oasis to bring food, drink, and acceptance to south St. Pete

February 09, 2021/ Amy Kochek

At the far southwest corner of USF St. Pete’s campus at 1055 4th Street South, stands a light grey, unassuming building that will soon be renovated into the St. Pete Community Oasis. The Oasis will introduce a shared space business model led by Community Café who used to call Central Avenue home. With an anticipated April 2021 opening, the concept will be an exceptional addition to south St. Pete along with other businesses migrating to the area as well.

St. Pete natives who were frequent customers to the Community Café’s old location at 2444 Central Avenue, which will soon be home to Valkyrie Doughnuts, owned by Celine Duvoisin of Valhalla Bakery, will remember its cozy vibes, vegan-friendly food options, comfortable workspace, community events and most of all, a sense of unconditional acceptance. The good news is, these will still be the foundation for the Community Oasis, but even better is what’s being added.

February 05, 2021

EDGE Collective Urban Market Place debuts this weekend in downtown St. Pete

February 05, 2021/ Brian Zucker

In October 2019, Miami-based PTM Partners paid $13 million to purchase a 31,000 square foot building, which formerly housed Furnish Me Vintage, along with an adjacent 1.25-acre surface parking lot at 1246 Central Avenue in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete.

Soon after acquiring the property, PTM proposed a mixed-use development called the EDGE Collective, which consisted of a Marriott Moxy hotel, a food hall, and coworking space. However, in the wake of COVID-19, the project may undergo a reconfiguration.

“We are currently working on the pre-development and design for the EDGE Collective and remain very excited about bringing this mixed-use development to the district,” says Michael Tillman, President of PTM Partners. “We are consciously evaluating how things may change in a post-COVID-19 world and are incorporating those concepts into our development plan.”

February 04, 2021

357 Apartments use zoning changes to bring quality, affordable small-unit housing downtown

February 04, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

Construction will soon begin on a new multi-unit apartment building with retail space at 357 5th Street South in downtown St. Pete that will have minimal parking as a result of recent changes to development regulations.

The five-story, $5 million project, developed by 357 5th Street South LLC and designed by Place Architecture, will consist of 25 residential units, including three studio units and 22 one-bedroom units that range in size from 597 to 738 square feet, as well as a rooftop terrace and 727 square feet of retail space for one retailer to occupy on the first floor. LEMA Construction, a St. Pete-based general contractor who has become a market leader for infill projects like 357 Apartments, will build the project.

February 03, 2021

415-unit apartment development approved for 4th Street North in St. Pete

February 03, 2021/ Anthony Close

A Naples-based developer is hoping to bring more apartments to 4th Street North in St. Petersburg. Plans for a previously approved multifamily development along 54th Avenue North between 1st Street and 4th Street were recently modified to allow more apartments on the site.

In June 2020, Stock Development acquired a 19.79 acre parcel at 5475 3rd Lane North for $10.8 million from St Pete 454 LLC, an entity controlled by developer Grady Pridgen. The purchase was another milestone in a multi-year effort to redevelop the former Venetian Motor Home Court site which was formerly home to 150 mobile home units.

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.