March 01, 2021

Whole Foods confirms St. Pete store is in development

March 01, 2021/ Brian Zucker

A few months ago, we started hearing whispers about a Whole Foods Market coming to St. Pete.

This isn’t the first time a Whole Foods has been rumored for the Sunshine City. In 2012, several local publications reported that the organic grocery chain was eyeing property adjacent to Synovus Bank at 333 3rd Avenue North in downtown St. Pete. That rumor never came to fruition.

A few years later, the Synovus Bank land was acquired by local philanthropist and art collector Rudy Ciccarello who pledged to build a world-class museum on the site. The five-story, 137,000 square foot Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement was later constructed on the property. Originally scheduled to open in 2020, the museum has pushed back its grand opening until later this year.

February 26, 2021

22 South Food Hall debuts inside the Historic Manhattan Casino this March

February 26, 2021/ Amy Kochek

The two-story Historic Manhattan Casino located at 642 22nd Street South will reopen mid-March as a multi-purpose building celebrating all things St. Pete and will include a food hall, co-working space, coffee shop, event venue, and bar.

There is something for everyone at the newly reconfigured space which is situated one mile from downtown St. Pete and in close proximity to the Grand Central District, the EDGE District, and the Central Arts District. Most importantly, it is in the Deuces, the historical main street of the Black community in St. Pete.

One of the building’s owners who is a part of the Callaloo Group, Mario Farias, emphasized the main goal of the building’s revival. “As someone who is a self-proclaimed southside kid, we are hoping to preserve the rich history of the building while still providing something new to the southside, which can sometimes receive a bad rap,” says Farias.

February 25, 2021

Plans for new Woodson African American Museum in the Deuces move forward

February 25, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

After a year of planning, St Petersburg City Council unanimously voted earlier this month to approve $700,000 in funding for the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, including a new location on 22nd Street and an impressive, Jazz-inspired design.

The soon-to-be-constructed 29,000 square foot building, designed by renowned Black-owned New York City-based Huff + Gooden Architects and local firm Wannemacher Jensen Architects, will feature two permanent collection galleries, a traveling exhibit gallery, a sculpture garden, outdoor covered event space, and a 500-seat event forum. In addition, there will be a book and gift shop, catering kitchen, and administrative offices on site.

February 23, 2021

City of St. Pete selects winner for redevelopment of Municipal Services Center

February 23, 2021/ Anthony Close

After months of discussion, the City has reached a preliminary agreement with Third Lake Capital and Echelon to purchase the existing Municipal Services Center (MSC) located at 1 Fourth Street North and construct a new facility on 2nd Avenue North. The joint venture has proposed purchasing the existing MSC for $12.25 million, which the City will use to fund the construction of the new MSC building.

The Municipal Services Center is an 11-story city-owned office building that houses local government services such as the planning department, code enforcement, and parking management, among others.

The City began exploring the redevelopment of the MSC back in December 2019 after receiving an unsolicited proposal to purchase the property from New York-based development firm Property Markets Group (PMG). The idea to redevelop the site had previously been discussed by St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, who envisioned building a new MSC building closer to City Hall to create a ‘campus-like’ feel among municipal services. The existing MSC is three blocks from City Hall.

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.