November 03, 2021

Steak and seafood restaurant The Crane coming to Central Avenue next year

November 03, 2021/ Amy Kochek

The Crane, a casual steak and seafood restaurant with a classic cocktail bar, is coming next year to the former Wig Villa space at 575 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete. Owner Sean Thongsiri’s first downtown restaurant, Mangosteen, opened this week at 656 Central Avenue – just a block away from The Crane.

“We love downtown St. Pete and all it has to offer for residents and guests alike,” said Serena Raynard, who is helping Thongsiri open and operate his restaurants. “Now that the doors are open at Mangosteen, we are excited to shift our focus to The Crane.”

Interior demolition began a few weeks ago and buildout is now underway. When diners enter the 150-seat restaurant, they will escape into a world that could’ve been taken right out of The Great Gatsby. Lounge seating at the front of the restaurant will welcome guests to relax and enjoy the food and drink offerings.

October 29, 2021

Portillo’s set to bring its Chicago-style hot dogs to St. Petersburg

October 29, 2021/ Anthony Close

A popular Chicago-based hot dog chain, Portillo’s, is set to open a location in the Tyrone area of St. Petersburg according to preliminary plan review documents filed with the city.

Portillo’s traces its origins to 1936 when founder Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a small hot dog cart in Villa Park, Illinois. The restaurant chain has since expanded to over 60 locations in nine states. Portillo’s entered the Florida market in 2016 with the opening of its location in Brandon, Florida. Later that same year Portillo’s opened at the University Mall in Tampa.

October 28, 2021

A meat and seafood market is coming soon to 4th Street North in St. Pete

October 28, 2021/ Brian Zucker

A new meat and seafood market offering over 700 products is coming to St. Pete in 2022.

Wild Fork Meat and Seafood Market will be located at 2801 4th Street North on the site of the former Alcove Senior Living. Notably, the market will be directly across the street from The Fresh Market and Trader Joes as well as a short five minute drive from downtown St. Pete.

“We’re excited to bring Wild Fork to St. Pete in 2022,” said CEO Vincent Trius. “Wild Fork can provide the centerpiece dish to every home-prepared meal – from weeknight dinners to special occasion dinner parties.”

The property was purchased by Belleair Development Group in April for $3.25 million. Once the existing structures are demolished, a new 4,950 square foot building will be constructed for Wild Fork.

October 27, 2021

15-story mixed-use development proposed for 8th Street South in downtown St. Pete

October 27, 2021/ Anthony Close

A development proposed for 8th Street South could be the latest project to bring new residential units and ground floor retail to downtown St. Pete.

White/Peterman Properties, Inc. is under contract to purchase a 1.15-acre site at the northeast corner of 4th Avenue South and 8th Street and has filed site plan review documents with the city.

The property is currently home to 10 low-density residential buildings with a total square footage of 9,553 square feet that are scheduled for demolition. The site is not located within a local or national historic district and none of the existing buildings are designated historical landmarks.

October 26, 2021

6-unit eco-friendly townhome community, The Bismarck, coming to Historic Kenwood

October 26, 2021/ Brian Zucker

Hot on the heels of their second development’s sellout, Salt Palm has just unveiled their third residential community for St. Pete – The Bismarck. The six-unit townhome community will be nestled in Historic Kenwood at 3023 1st Avenue North.

The Bismarck will be steps away from some of the Grand Central District’s most popular restaurants, including Baba, Wild Child, and Casita Taqueria. And hundreds of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and boutiques are just a bike ride away in downtown St. Pete.

Each 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath unit at The Bismarck will range from 2,945 to 3,102 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space. Each home will feature a private entrance, an attached two-car garage, vinyl impact-rated windows, and a private artificial turfed backyard.

October 25, 2021

Creative Grape will be Historic Kenwood’s newest art gallery and wine bar

October 25, 2021/ Brian Zucker

Every neighborhood should have a local bar where residents can blow off steam after a stressful workday. To take a line from the Cheers theme song, a bar “where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came.”

For Historic Kenwood, that bar may very well become Creative Grape, an inclusive space for neighbors to hang out with wine, beer, food, art, music, and the occasional fun event.

Currently under construction at 3100 3rd Avenue North, Creative Grape will be located in the former Georgie’s Alibi space in the Shoppes at Kenwood. Georgie’s was an iconic St. Pete gay venue that closed its doors in 2015.

October 21, 2021

New boutique hotel to replace former Hotel Indigo in downtown St. Pete

October 21, 2021/ Brian Zucker

A new boutique hotel is coming to downtown St. Petersburg this winter. The Exchange Hotel, formerly known as the Hotel Indigo, will feature 76 charming guest rooms and suites along with an elegant restaurant & bar and spacious event space in the heart of the city’s downtown district.

“We look forward to The Exchange Hotel serving as a comfortable, walkable home base from which to explore all the Sunshine City has to offer,” said Andre Ward, the hotel’s General Manager. “Nestled in the heart of Downtown St. Pete, our hotel features a unique balance of inviting gathering spaces and charming, cozy guestrooms that provide the perfect place to rest your head – whether you’re here for work or play.”

October 19, 2021

Kolter Group proposes 41-story condo tower for 200 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete

October 19, 2021/ Anthony Close

On the heels of the groundbreaking of St. Pete’s future tallest tower, another residential tower has been announced for downtown.

Yesterday, New York-based developer Red Apple Group held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Residences at 400 Central, a 46-story, 515-foot condo tower planned for 400 Central Avenue. Now, just two blocks away, Kolter Group is proposing another soaring condominium tower.

Kolter Group, which previously built ONE St. Petersburg and is currently constructing Saltaire, has announced plans for a 41-story condominium tower at 200 Central Avenue.

October 18, 2021

46-story condo tower, 400 Central, breaks ground in downtown St. Pete

October 18, 2021/ Brian Zucker

Just two weeks after the sales launch, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held this morning for 400 Central, a 46-story condominium tower to be constructed in the heart of downtown St. Pete.

Located on a full city block at 400 Central Avenue, the project is being spearheaded by billionaire developer John Catsimatidis Sr., owner of Red Apple Group, who was in attendance with his wife and children.

“St. Petersburg is such a special community, and we are honored to help contribute to the growing vibrancy of this wonderful city,” said John Catsimatidis Sr. “The pace of reservations already far exceeds our expectations, and I am immensely proud of the development team that is bringing this project to life. This is a community where I have had family ties for more than 30 years and I can hardly wait to greet our future residents as they move into their new homes in the sky.”

October 15, 2021

St. Pete City Council approves $2 million for Jordan Park redevelopment project

October 15, 2021/ Anthony Close

Yesterday St. Petersburg City Council approved a request to provide $2 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from the South St. Petersburg Redevelopment District Fund as part of the renovation and redevelopment of the Jordan Park housing complex located at 1245 Jordan Park Street South in south St. Petersburg.

Built between 1939 and 1941, Jordan Park is the oldest federal public housing project in Florida and was named after African American developer Elder Jordan Sr.

Jordan was a prominent African American businessman and civic activist. He built the Jordan dance hall, now named the Manhattan Casino, and donated the land used to build the original Jordan Park housing development.