August 06, 2021

Tokyo-style listening bar, In Between Days, opens this month in St. Pete

August 06, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

Walk too quickly down 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District and you’d be forgiven for passing right by St Pete’s newest hub of art, culture, food, and drinks. The small blue house at 2340 1st Avenue South has no sign, no logo on the door, and limited web presence. It’s a destination to stumble upon serendipitously or seek out intentionally. However you find yourself inside, you’re in for an experience unlike any you’ve had in St Pete - or all of Florida for that matter.

In Between Days is a listening bar, a cafe with high-end audio equipment where attention to detail, quality, and intentionality are the focus. When it opens this summer, it will be Florida’s first such institution, a concept originated in Japan and popularized in places like New York, LA, and London by both music lovers and casual listeners alike. Audiophiles will delight in the pristine and perfect sound, but even those who think music isn’t “their thing” will find themselves immediately mesmerized.

August 05, 2021

New six-story apartment building planned for St. Pete’s Gateway area

August 05, 2021/ Anthony Close

A grassy lot in north St. Petersburg is slated to become the site of the latest multifamily development in the Gateway area. On August 4th the Development Review Commission (DRC) will held a public hearing for a proposed site plan modification of the 22-acre Ibis Walk development which is located between Dr. MLK Jr. Street and Roosevelt Boulevard just north of Gandy Boulevard. The approval paves the way for a new six-story, 127-unit apartment building.

Ibis Walk is a mixed-use development that began construction in 2009 and was expected to have multifamily units, 77,000 square feet of retail space, and 150,000 square feet of office space. A portion of the retail space was completed in 2011 and later a 401-unit, four-story rental community, Ibis Walk Apartments, was completed in 2014. Current retail tenants in the retail space include Tijuana Flats, Freshii, 9Round Fitness, Smoothie King, Dollar General, and Yaya’s Flame Broiled Chicken.

August 04, 2021

Marina Beach, a 400-unit mixed-use development, is approved for the Skyway Marina District

August 04, 2021/ Anthony Close

Yesterday, St. Pete’s Development Review Commission unanimously approved plans for a mixed-use development planned for the southwest corner of 34th Street South and 42nd Avenue South in the Skyway Marina District.

The project at 4311 34th Street South was first announced by St. Pete Rising in early June and will feature a 400-unit multifamily building along with a 95,000 square foot self-storage facility, a 2,400 square foot bank, and a 4,500 square foot restaurant pad.

The land is under contract for purchase by Jack Dougherty of Allied Group Holdings and is currently occupied by an underutilized strip mall. Allied Group previously sold a 5.25-acre parcel just south of the site to Sarasota-based LifeStar Living which is planning to construct a nine-story luxury senior living community – The Manhattan.

August 03, 2021

23-story condo building, The Nolen, approved for 4th Avenue Northeast

August 03, 2021/ Anthony Close

On Tuesday, St. Pete’s Development Review Commission approved the site plan to construct The Nolen, a 23-story condominium tower planned for 146 4th Avenue Northeast in downtown. The Nolen is being developed by Bowen Arnold and John Schilling at DDA Development. The luxury condominium building is expected to have 31 units and will be 288 feet tall.

The property is currently occupied by two structures and a surface parking lot. One of the structures was built in 1912 and operates as the Watergarden Inn at the Bay, a bed & breakfast, and was designated a historic structure in 1994.

As part of the redevelopment, the structure will be moved to a vacant lot at the northeast corner of 8th Avenue North and Dartmoor Street North in Uptown. The lot is less than a mile away from the current location.

August 03, 2021

Gateway Subs to serve up massive gourmet hoagies in Kenwood

August 03, 2021/ Brian Zucker

They’re known as grinders in Boston, heroes in Connecticut, Italian sandwiches in Vermont, and subs just about everywhere else. But regardless of what you call them, we can all agree on our love for them. In fact, the largest chain restaurant in the United States isn’t McDonalds. It’s Subway.

And in a few short weeks, a new sub shop will be joining the St. Pete sandwich scene. Gateway Subs will debut at 3112 3rd Avenue North in the Shoppes of Kenwood across from the Elements on Third apartment community. Jenna Malowany and Hal Holder of KW Commercial represented the landlord in the deal.

Many residents may remember this space as the former home of Georgie's Alibi, a popular gay bar that closed in 2015. After the bar’s closure, owner Ron Gofrank sold the retail strip, which has been sitting mostly vacant ever since. However recently, the property has started to attract new tenants, such as St. Pete Dance, Back Alley Nails, and now Gateway Subs.

August 02, 2021

A vintage market and apothecary, Page Boy, is coming soon to downtown St. Pete

August 02, 2021/ Brian Zucker

David Kafer’s love of antique furniture came to him honestly. His dad restored three floors’ worth in the family’s old barn growing up and taught him how to bring old pieces back to life. And now, he will be able to showcase that love -- mixed with a strong affinity for color -- at a new boutique in downtown St. Pete.

The concept, called Page Boy, will be a vintage market and apothecary with a rotating display of repurposed colorful antiques, small-batch, handmade goods as well as bath and body care, candles, artwork, and cards.

Kafer, along with his partner (in life and business) Jason Hall, hopes to have the shop, located at 460 Third Street North, open by late August. The quaint, unassuming building is tucked behind a parking lot and is flanked by MedMen and the sales office for NJR Construction Group’s latest condominium development, Domus Urbana.

July 30, 2021

Revised plans for an expanded Dali Museum are revealed

July 30, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

After failing to reach an agreement with certain stakeholders on its original plans for expansion, The Dali Museum has submitted a revised proposal to the city, which if approved, will appear as a referendum item on the November 2021 ballot. The entire project could have major impacts for the Center for the Arts Complex, including the Mahaffey Theater.

The Dali Museum’s new plan calls for the construction of a multi-level addition to the southwest side of the existing building that would include 40,000 square feet of expanded exhibit space, virtual reality and artificial intelligence displays, event space, and a full-service restaurant and terrace overlooking the downtown yacht basin. Unlike the original submission, it does not include a new parking garage.

July 26, 2021

Sol St. Pete to bring health-conscious comfort food to the Warehouse Arts District

July 26, 2021/ Amy Kochek

In early September, St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District will welcome Sōl St. Pete to the neighborhood at 222 22nd Street South, previously home to Puerto Rican restaurant WEPA Cocina and next door to 3 Daughter’s Brewing . Sōl St. Pete is a bistro serving elevated comfort food that offers a conscious culinary experience.

Health-conscious diners will have a new restaurant to add to their rotation with this unique concept that utilizes savory and delicious whole-food ingredients. The food at Sōl St. Pete will be free from gluten, soy, peanuts, refined sugar, and inflammatory dairy products. In fact, if you have an uncommon allergy, you can call beforehand so the staff can accommodate your needs.

July 22, 2021

Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani to open coastal Italian tavern in downtown St. Pete this winter

July 22, 2021/ Brian Zucker

Last June, celebrity chef Fabio Viviani was preparing to open La Pergola, a highly anticipated Italian restaurant slated for downtown St. Pete, when one of his business partners became embroiled in scandal. After cutting all ties with Nocturnal Hospitality Group, Viviani is ready to announce an all-new restaurant concept for downtown St. Pete -- and this time, he’s in full control.

“I’ve learned that I need to be in charge, not a management company,” says Viviani. “Now that the project is in my hands, I can control everything from the operations to the culture.”

Taverna Costale will be a coastal Italian restaurant and bar with an emphasis on local seafood. It’ll also feature made-from-scratch pasta, pizza, and high-end cuts of prime and dry-aged steaks. The new restaurant will debut this winter on the ground floor of downtown St. Pete’s tallest office tower located at 200 Central Avenue.

July 20, 2021

695 Central plans major renovation in downtown St. Pete

July 20, 2021/ Brian Zucker

A two-story building in the heart of downtown St. Pete is set to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation next year. The 16,000 square foot property is located adjacent to the Morean Arts Center and across the street from the Chihuly Collection at 695 Central Avenue.

Safety Harbor-based Paradise Ventures purchased the building for $3.4 million in December 2019. The initial goal was to begin renovations in 2020, but COVID-19 delayed the project. Now plans are moving forward.

The building is currently anchored by QuickAid, which is a legal office specializing in social security disability insurance, and City’s Bistro, a local restaurant serving gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, and breakfast sandwiches. Both businesses have plans to relocate once renovations begin in 2022.