Drive-thru only Starbucks proposed for 9th Avenue North in North Kenwood

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Drive-thru only Starbucks proposed for 9th Avenue North in North Kenwood

Another week, another new coffee shop planned for St. Pete!

But unlike recent news of locally owned coffee shops like The Blend opening in Magnolia Heights and Sage’s Playground opening in downtown St. Pete, this time it’s a new location by Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks. 

Plans have been filed for a new Starbucks at the northeast corner of 9th Avenue North and 34th Street in St. Pete’s North Kenwood neighborhood. The site was formerly an Exxon Mobile gas station. The parcel is owned by Catfish Real Estate, LLC.

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The Oyster Bar is relocating to the Grand Central District

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The Oyster Bar is relocating to the Grand Central District

St. Petersburg’s booming Grand Central District has enticed The Oyster Bar, a staple of the downtown dining scene since 1999, to pull up stakes and leave its longtime home at 249 Central Avenue.

The eatery, known for its seafood menu and happy hour specials, closed its doors on Sunday, August 20th, but will reopen this October at 2245 Central Avenue, a 3,200-square-foot space formerly home to Zoie’s, an LGBTQ-owned restaurant that opened in 2022.

The business sale is currently under contract and expected to close later this week. Jenna Malowany of KW Commercial is representing the previous tenant and Joe Esposito of KW Commercial is representing The Oyster Bar in the business sale transaction.

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Women’s clothing boutique Vogue Society opens this weekend in downtown St. Pete

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Women’s clothing boutique Vogue Society opens this weekend in downtown St. Pete

A women’s fashion boutique that’s owned and operated by a mother-daughter team is coming soon to downtown St. Petersburg after finding success at Sarasota’s University Town Center. 

Vogue Society Boutique will be located at 212 2nd Street North, next to the newly opened Dirty Shirley restaurant and bar and across the street from the Sundial retail, dining, and entertainment complex. 

Founders Sharon and Kait Yoniski are planning a Saturday August 26th grand opening and they’re stoking interest in the debut of their second location with an Instagram contest that will award the lucky winner free clothes for a year.

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Tesla plans to build new Supercharger on 22nd Avenue in St. Pete

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Tesla plans to build new Supercharger on 22nd Avenue in St. Pete

Good news for electric vehicle owners! Tesla is planning to open a new Supercharger in St. Pete!

According to documents filed with the City of St. Petersburg, the Tesla Supercharger is planned for the parking lot of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store at 2365 25th Street North.

The site is also home to a Wawa gas station that fronts 22nd Avenue North. Tesla has previously partnered to build its supercharging stations at other Wawa locations. 

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St. Pete’s only children’s toy shop Runrun Kids Store debuts this week

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St. Pete’s only children’s toy shop Runrun Kids Store debuts this week

It’s hard to believe that there are zero local toy stores for kids in St. Pete. But it’s true. We have an incredible children’s museum, fantastic playgrounds all over the city, and an adorable kid’s clothing boutique, but not one local children’s toy store. None. Nada. Zero. Zilch.

Until now. 

Runrun Kids Store debuts this Thursday, August 24th, graduating from a kiosk on the St. Pete Pier to a spacious 1,300-square-foot, brick-and-mortar shop at 3962 Central Avenue. Jenna Malowany of KW Commercial represented Runrun in the lease transaction.

Owner Jess Garvin opened Runrun in November 2022, signing a one-year lease for the kiosk space, but told St. Pete Rising that she always aspired to open a larger, permanent location, especially because of the dearth of toy stores in downtown St. Petersburg.

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Proper Meats sandwich shop to replace plant-based eatery in the Grand Central District

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Proper Meats sandwich shop to replace plant-based eatery in the Grand Central District

Freya’s Diner, a plant-based restaurant located at 2462 Central Avenue, shuttered on August 6th, citing an unusually slow summer season for local small businesses. In an ironic twist, the vegan lunch and dinner spot is being replaced by Proper Meats, a funky sandwich shop whose menu is jam-packed with dishes that feature chicken, duck, brisket, pork, turkey, bacon, and even duck and gator meat.

Proper Meats started out as a food truck stationed at Motorworks Brewing in Bradenton. It’s the brainchild of James Knight, who was part of the group that launched Dr. BBQ in St. Petersburg. He has also served as executive chef at Datz in Tampa and Donovan’s Meatery in Riverview.

To be fair, Proper Meats’ menu includes some vegan and vegetarian choices, such as the Faux Burger, made with an Impossible Burger patty, and the PETA pita containing hummus, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, onion, and ranch.

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35-story luxury condo tower Saltaire is now complete in downtown St. Pete

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35-story luxury condo tower Saltaire is now complete in downtown St. Pete

Downtown St. Pete’s newest luxury address has arrived!

Construction has been successfully completed on Saltaire, the 35-story condominium tower that has been under construction at 300 1st Street South since 2020.

Standing 408 feet tall, Saltaire features 192 condominium residences along with 8,600 square feet of ground floor retail space, which fronts 1st Street and 2nd Street South.

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The fate of Fresco's Waterfront Bistro in downtown St. Pete

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The fate of Fresco's Waterfront Bistro in downtown St. Pete

Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro, a longtime staple of downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront and four-time winner of Tampa Bay’s best waterfront restaurant, could look much different — or disappear entirely — because of the impending redevelopment of the city’s municipal marina.

Two companies, Safe Harbor Marinas and Suntex Marinas, are bidding for a contract that would include redeveloping and operating the marina, which is in need of extensive repairs.

Located at 300 2nd Avenue Northeast, at the entrance of the St. Pete Pier, Fresco’s is privately operated but restaurant owner David Sockol leases the 2,600-square-foot property from the city. Sockol opened Fresco’s in 2003.

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The Blend Coffee & Cocktails to open new cafe on 16th Street in Magnolia Heights

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The Blend Coffee & Cocktails to open new cafe on 16th Street in Magnolia Heights

Listen up coffee enthusiasts! Soon there will be another place in town to get your caffeine fix. And it’s coming from a company that has taken the St. Pete coffee scene by storm in recent years.

The Blend Coffee & Cocktails is planning a new location at 3001 16th Street North in St. Petersburg, expanding its unique concept of combining specialty coffee and creative cocktails.

The location is in the Magnolia Heights neighborhood at the northeast corner of 16th Street and 30th Avenue North in a building that was previously home to the 4 Body Fit Institute.

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Two-story dog-friendly coffee shop and cafe Sage’s Playground coming to downtown St. Pete

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Two-story dog-friendly coffee shop and cafe Sage’s Playground coming to downtown St. Pete

St. Petersburg has long been known as a dog-friendly, animal-loving place. Last year, the Sunshine City was named the most dog-friendly city in America. We have a dog bar, a dog water park, a dog bakery, and early next year, downtown St. Pete is getting a dog-themed coffee shop. 

Sage’s Playground, located at 218 4th Street North in downtown St. Pete, will offer a massive two-story, 3,500-square-foot space for dog owners to hang out with their furry and human friends while grabbing a cup of coffee and a bite to eat.

The space was formerly home to the Lynn Merhige Gallery and Orange Blossom Catering.

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