October 07, 2021

The Wet Spot Pool Bar coming soon to the Grand Central District

October 07, 2021/ Brian Zucker

There’s nothing more relaxing than lounging by the pool with a drink in hand on a hot summer day. For years, the Hollander Hotel in downtown St. Pete has hosted popular events at their outdoor pool bar. And now, owner Michael Andoniades hopes to replicate his success in the Grand Central District.

Permits were approved earlier this week and construction will soon begin on St. Pete’s newest pool bar, The Wet Spot, located at 2355 Central Avenue in the historic Mari-Jean Hotel.

The new watering hole will be operated by David Fischer, who also owns two other bars on the property – Cocktail, St. Pete’s newest gay bar, and The Saint, a sinful speakeasy. Fischer is also owner of Zazoo’d, a home decor shop, in downtown St. Pete.

October 06, 2021

Sales launch for The Residences at 400 Central, a 46-story condo tower in downtown St. Pete

October 06, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

Sales have launched for 400 Central, a 46-story luxury condo building slated to be built on the 400 block of Central Avenue in Downtown St Pete. Once completed, the 515-foot, $400 million tower developed by Red Apple Real Estate will be the tallest building on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The community will feature a residents-only glass-enclosed Sky Lounge with sweeping views of Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on the top floor.

Designed by award-winning global architecture firm Arquitectonica of Miami, the building’s 301 coastal-modern residential units will include twenty different floor plans with 2-4 bedrooms and custom 2-story penthouse homes ranging from 1,277 to 5,600 square feet. Each unit will have an open concept floor plan with 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, spa-style bathrooms, and a gourmet kitchen with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and European style cabinetry.

September 29, 2021

Three food concepts to debut at the upscale EDGE Eatery in downtown St. Pete

September 29, 2021/ Amy Kochek

The EDGE Eatery, a restaurant concept featuring three food counters, is set to open the first week of December at 1572 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. The new restaurant will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the former Pinot’s Palette located on the ground level of the Fusion 1560 Apartments. The 3,000 square foot space will also offer a lounge that will serve as a place to relax or get some work done.

The EDGE Eatery’s three food counters will offer Asian, Italian, and Latin cuisine. St. Pete locals may recognize some of the operators as they were among the most popular food spots at the EDGE Collective Urban Market Place located a few blocks away at 1234 Central Avenue.

The owner of the popular food truck Shiso Crispy will be opening Shiso Dumplings at The EDGE Eatery. The dumpling house will offer made-to-order gyoza, shumai, and mandu. Owner Ronicca Whaley’s Shiso Crispy was recently voted the number one food truck in Tampa Bay at the 2021 Best of the Best Awards presented by The Tampa Bay Times.

September 28, 2021

New renderings revealed for The Nolen, a 23-story condo tower planned for downtown St. Pete

September 28, 2021/ Anthony Close

The developers behind The Nolen, a 23-story residential tower planned for 146 4th Avenue Northeast in downtown St. Pete, have revealed additional information about the project as it moves closer to reality.

DDA Development, which is led by Bowen Arnold and John Schilling, has announced that sales for the project is expected to begin in November. Smith & Associates Real Estate is the exclusive broker for the project.

September 27, 2021

Major expansion planned for downtown St. Pete’s historic Cordova Inn

September 27, 2021/ Anthony Close

The Cordova Inn, a historic boutique hotel in downtown St. Pete, is set for a major expansion that will grow the hotel from 32 to 94 rooms while adding a restaurant and a rooftop bar and pool to the property, according to plans recently filed with the city.

Built in 1921, The Cordova Inn is located at 253 2nd Avenue North and was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

September 23, 2021

Sab Sushi brings artful, elevated sushi to 4th Street in downtown St. Pete

September 23, 2021/ Anthony Close

Downtown St. Pete has added another player to its sushi scene with the addition of Sab Sushi. Located at 364 1st Avenue North, Sab Sushi is the latest restaurant concept from the owners of Sab Café, at 111 2nd Avenue Northeast, and Chopstick Express, at 3946 4th Street North.

The restaurant is located at the corner of 4th Street North and 1st Avenue North in a space that was previously home to Taste of the Islands.

Head sushi chef and manager of Sab Sushi Mike Boriboun, whose family owns Sab Café, has been handcrafting sushi in Tampa Bay for over 10 years. He has worked across the region at Sab Café and Lemongrass in downtown St. Pete as well as at Kona Grill in Tampa and Seaweed in Belleair Bluffs.

September 22, 2021

St. Pete Brewing Co. breaks ground on tasting room expansion

September 22, 2021/ Brian Zucker

It has been a long road for Tom Williams and St. Pete Brewing Company. When Williams first decided to open a brewery, there were none in St. Petersburg. By the time St Pete Brewing debuted in 2014, they were number five.

The original plan was to open at Baywalk. But then in 2011, the plaza was purchased and shut down to undergo extensive renovations for what would later become Sundial.

And so, the search to find a home for St. Pete Brewing began again. Eventually, Williams ended up purchasing a 3,900 square foot building at 544 1st Avenue North in 2012. Williams decided to move his financing company, eLease, into 1,500 square feet and open St. Pete Brewing in the remaining 2,400 square feet.

September 21, 2021

A new performing arts theater, Studio Grand Central, premiers in St. Pete

September 21, 2021/ Amy Kochek

St. Pete’s reputation as the new creative capital just received another promising boost with the recent opening of Studio Grand Central, a mid-sized, one-set theater, gallery, and performance venue located at 2260 1st Avenue South, formerly home to Andi Matheny Acting Studios.

The intimate theater, which seats 55 people, recently kicked off its inaugural season at the end of July with the debut of “Rasheeda Speaking”, a provocative depiction of race, power, and friendship.

The size of the Studio is touted as its strength as it introduces an opportunity for the players to tackle sensitive topics that target underserved audiences such as the LGBTQ+, African American, Asian, and senior citizen communities. The one-set stage is ideal for living room comedies and dramas that audiences can engage and interact with.

September 20, 2021

Mixed-use building planned for 2700 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District

September 20, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

A new, luxury loft home development is coming soon to the Grand Central District in Downtown St Pete. 2700 Central, named for its prime location on Central Avenue and 27th Street, will feature three 3-bed and 3.5-bath sunlit properties with 2,100 square feet of living space. The building will also have 2,500 square feet of ground floor retail space that will front Central Avenue.

“2700 Central is an opportunity to redefine urban living in Downtown St. Pete and we’re excited to be part of it.” said John Barkett of Barkett Realty, which is representing the properties for sale. “As the Grand Central District continues to evolve and grow, our goal is to offer innovative and unique living spaces to match the city’s vibrant energy.”

September 17, 2021

The Candle Pour to bring DIY candle making to the EDGE District

September 17, 2021/ Brian Zucker

A do-it-yourself candle-making shop has signed a lease in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete. This will be the second location for the family owned and operated business, which debuted in Tampa’s Hyde Park Village in 2019.

The Candle Pour’s St. Pete outpost will be located at 1128 Central Avenue in a 2,000 square foot space formerly home to Rick’s Electronics Boutique, which moved to 3920 Central Avenue earlier this year. Owners Misty and Dennis Akers hope to debut in the Sunshine City by early 2022.

"Candles were a big part of my childhood," said owner Misty Akers to St. Pete Patch in April 2019. "Candles have always been a sentimental part of our life. Dennis and I both feel they remind us of home and family. We love that we can create memories for others and be a part of their home."