28-story apartment tower approved for Exchange Hotel site in downtown St. Pete

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28-story apartment tower approved for Exchange Hotel site in downtown St. Pete

Last week, St. Petersburg’s Development Review Commission approved plans for a 28-story development slated for the site of the Exchange Hotel, formerly known as Hotel Indigo, located at 234 3rd Avenue North.

The plans were filed by Ally MW, LLC, an entity controlled by Ally Capital Group, a Tampa-based investment firm, which is led by Andrew Wright, the founder of Franklin Street.

Ally acquired the Hotel Indigo in 2020 at bankruptcy court for $7.4 million.  The property was subsequently renovated into the Exchange Hotel. 

Designed by St. Pete-based Behar + Peteranecz, the proposed residential tower will boast 327 units and a 325-space parking garage.

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Golfology virtual golf lounge teeing up plans for St. Pete

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Golfology virtual golf lounge teeing up plans for St. Pete

Golfers and wannabe golfers looking to work on their game without going outside will soon have a new destination in St. Pete. Golfology, a high-tech indoor golf experience, is coming this fall to the Warehouse Arts District.

Golfology will be equipped with six golf simulators, a custom interactive putting green, and various practice stations in a sprawling, 5,800-square-foot space at 2400 5th Avenue South.

“We are so proud to be part of St. Petersburg and our commitment to grow within and with the community is a top priority,” states Golfology’s website. “Not only do we offer a welcoming and affordable golf destination for St. Pete residents, we will also partner with local business and school programs to bring people together through the love of golf.”

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Crunch Fitness opens new location in Tyrone area

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Crunch Fitness opens new location in Tyrone area

Just in time for the sweltering summer temperatures, St. Petersburg residents have a new option for indoor, air-conditioned exercise. Crunch Fitness, a chain of fitness centers headquartered in New York, opened its newest Tampa Bay area location on Saturday, July 8, at Tyrone Gardens Shopping Center, 900 58th Street North, a retail plaza anchored by a Big Lots discount store.

Crunch Fitness renovated the 25,000-square-foot space, at the southeast corner of the property, to the tune of $5 million, according to a news release. It offers cardio and strength training equipment, a group fitness studio, a cycling studio, training hub, dry saunas, tanning beds, spacious locker rooms, and more. Members will have access to the company’s highly experienced personal trainers.

Crunch Fitness membership packages range in price from $9.99 to $29.99 per month.

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Forbici Modern Italian is coming to Sundial in downtown St. Pete

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Forbici Modern Italian is coming to Sundial in downtown St. Pete

One of Tampa’s most heralded Italian restaurants is opening an expansive new St. Pete outpost next year. The fan favorite Forbici will bring its modern Italian charm to the Sundial shopping center in downtown St. Pete by mid 2024 with plans for plenty of Roman-style pizza and house-made pasta. 

Last Friday, the trendy full-service, modern-Italian eatery signed a lease for a 7,000-square-foot restaurant at 179 2nd Avenue North on the first floor of Sundial, confirmed a representative for Paradise Ventures.

The space was formerly occupied by Locale Market, a gourmet, locally sourced market helmed by Chef Michael Mina and Chef Don Pintabona. The concept debuted to much fanfare in December 2014. However, business never took off and the market permanently shuttered at the beginning of 2020.

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Country music bar Cowboys Dance Hall opens in Largo

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Country music bar Cowboys Dance Hall opens in Largo

Put on your Stetson hat and your cowboy boots and get ready for some boot-scootin’ boogie! Dubbing itself “Pinellas County’s Premier Country Bar,” Cowboys Dance Hall opened last month at 12333 66th Street North in Largo. The venue was previously known as the Waterin’ Trough, a nightclub that also had a country-roadhouse vibe.

Once you enter the 12,000-square-foot venue, grab a drink from the main bar or the blue horse trailer turned mobile bar and hit the dance floor for some two-stepping and line dancing.

According to the Cowboys Dance Hall Instagram page, the venue’s entertainment lineup varies from day to day. Dance lessons are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m., with a $5 cover charge. Friday and Saturday nights feature “honky tonkin’ all night long,” while Sunday evenings offer 20% off to those in the service industry.

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New late-night Grand Central cocktail lounge in the works

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New late-night Grand Central cocktail lounge in the works

A new upscale, late-night cocktail lounge is being developed at 2756 Central Avenue, at the western edge of St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District. 

Tampa Bay Drinkery is the brainchild of Wellington Moto, who’s part of the management team of Grumpy Gringo Liquors, located next door to the new establishment. He told St. Pete Rising it’s about two months away from opening, but when it does welcome patrons, it will add something different to Grand Central’s nightlife scene.

“We’re looking for a more mature crowd,” he said, adding that Tampa Bay Drinkery, which will be open from noon to 2:30 a.m., seven days per week, will feature a piano player who takes requests on weeknights. On weekends, a small three-piece band might play. During daytime hours when business tends to be slower, he plans to have a jukebox-like vinyl record player so customers can choose their own music. 

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Sprouts Farmers Market is coming to South St. Pete

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Sprouts Farmers Market is coming to South St. Pete

South St. Pete has long hoped for more grocery options. Most of the region is considered a food desert, an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Due to several factors, including average income and population density, it has been difficult to attract grocers to the region.

However, one national supermarket chain has recently decided to plant their flag in south St. Pete. Sprouts Farmers Market will be opening a 23,000-square-foot store in a new mixed-use development coming soon to the Skyway Marina District, giving residents of South St. Petersburg a much-needed source of fresh, healthy food.

Located at 3102 34th Street South, the project, first announced in May, will take the place of the Ceridian office complex.

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21-story, 310-unit apartment tower planned for 1st Avenue North in the EDGE District

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21-story, 310-unit apartment tower planned for 1st Avenue North in the EDGE District

Just three months after announcing plans to build 300-400 apartments at the crossroads of Central Avenue and 34th Street, Virginia-based developer Kettler is now pitching plans for another project in St. Pete.

The proposed $100 million apartment tower, which would rise at the northwest corner of 1123 1st Avenue North in the EDGE District, was recently submitted to the City of St. Pete for approval.

Plans call for the construction of a new 21-story tower featuring 310 apartments above parking for 360 vehicles. The project will also include 6,766 square feet of commercial space, 351 square feet of office space, and parking for 325 bicycles.

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Kids clothing shop Little Llamas debuts in St. Pete

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Kids clothing shop Little Llamas debuts in St. Pete

You can’t count on much in life, but you can always count on kids outgrowing their clothes. Whether you are a parent of little ones or a friend of a soon-to-be mama, chances are you’re in the market for more kids clothing. Instead of patronizing the usual suspects like Amazon, Target, Walmart, or Carter’s, why not shop local?

Little Llamas Children’s Boutique, which recently debuted at 2319 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North in St. Pete, hopes to be an alternative to the big-box retailers and online retail giants.

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Red Mesa Mercado to bring Cali-Mex fare to west St. Pete in 2024

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Red Mesa Mercado to bring Cali-Mex fare to west St. Pete in 2024

Red Mesa Mercado, a popular Cali-Mex eatery located in St. Pete’s EDGE District, will expand to the Pasadena neighborhood in west St. Pete in 2024.

The new outpost will be situated at 6001 Central Avenue, which was previously home to Two Graces and Reading Room.

Red Mesa Mercado, which opened at 1100 1st Avenue North in 2014, offers family recipes with Cali-Mex and old-world Mexican flavors in a fast-casual format. Best-sellers include the Shrimp Tacos, Cali Burrito, and the Plantain Bowl.

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