November 15, 2023

Locally owned vegan, gluten-free HaleLife Bakery opens bistro in north St. Pete

November 15, 2023/ Brian Hartz

HaleLife Bakery opened for business on Oct. 30th at 11270 4th Street North, the former home of Brewers’ Tasting Room, which closed in May. A few days earlier, on Oct. 24th, HaleLife closed its Clearwater location but still has three other stores in the Tampa Bay region, including one in downtown St. Petersburg and two in Tampa.

The new St. Pete location is slated to become a full-fledged, bistro-style establishment in 2024, according to HaleLife’s Instagram feed. Until then, it will offer a “bistro express” menu that includes breakfast and lunch options in addition to bakery items, such as cupcakes, donuts, brownies, and breads.

Breakfast offerings include avocado toast, french toast bites, waffles, and a selection of breakfast sandwiches.

November 14, 2023

10-unit townhome development proposed for Old Southeast in St. Petersburg

November 14, 2023/ Anthony Close

Plans have been announced for a new townhome community on 4th Street South in St. Petersburg’s Old Southeast neighborhood.

Named 4th Street Gardens, the 10-unit townhome community is being proposed by IDYL Development, which previously proposed a 33-unit apartment building in downtown St. Pete.

4th Street Gardens will be located at 2100 4th Street South and will consist of two five-unit buildings divided by an interior motor court. Each residence will be 2,280 square feet with four-floors with three bedrooms.

November 13, 2023

The Story Garden, a children’s bookstore, eyes 2024 opening in Historic Uptown

November 13, 2023/ Brian Hartz

A new locally owned children’s bookstore is coming to Historic Uptown in early 2024. It’s called The Story Garden and it will be located in an 800-square-foot space at 832 14th Street North.

According to founder and owner Megan Kotsko, though, The Story Garden’s business model will be about much more than just selling books.

“It'll be two-thirds retail, and then the back third of the space will be a children’s play space,” Kotsko told St. Pete Rising. “Our programming and events are going to bring people in.”

In addition to weekly story times and book clubs for children, The Story Garden will host an eight-week program for toddlers called Play Me A Story. Each one-hour class will feature a read-aloud followed by intentional play experiences tailored to extend the story’s content and build connections to the world. Dates and times are still being ironed out, but those interested can sign up for updates on The Story Garden’s website .

November 13, 2023

Mixed-use townhome development Strum Place proposed for Central Avenue in west St. Pete

November 13, 2023/ Anthony Close

St. Petersburg-based J Square Developers and Backstreets Capital have announced a new mixed-use townhome project on Central Avenue in west St. Petersburg.

Named Strum Place, the development will be planned for Central Avenue and 64th Street and is being named after The Strum family, one of the pioneering families of west St. Petersburg who built the existing two-story house on the site in 1924. The developers purchased the 0.84-acre site in December 2022 for $1.45 million.

Strum Place will feature nine three-story townhomes, each with three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms along with a two-car garage. The homes will feature 2,040 square feet and pricing will start in the $700,000’s.

November 10, 2023

Christmas-themed pop-up bar opens this weekend in downtown St. Pete

November 10, 2023/ Brian Hartz

’Tis the season! Not only are Christmas decorations beginning to appear in stores, but a new Christmas-themed pop-up bar, Xmas Bar, is opening this weekend at 260 1st Avenue North. The new holiday-themed bar is another concept from Forward Hospitality Group, which also created Goodnight John Boy, the 1970s-themed nightclub at 16 2nd Street North.

“We wanted to bring in another place where people can unite, that crosses all age boundaries and provides a great guest experience,” Michael Schwartz, CEO of Forward Hospitality Group, told St. Pete Rising. “And who doesn’t love Christmas?”

November 10, 2023

St. Pete City Council approves $9.7 million for 264-unit affordable housing project slated for 31st Street

November 10, 2023/ Anthony Close

Yesterday St. Pete City Council approved funding to construct a 264-unit affordable housing development at 31st Street South and Fairfield Avenue near the Warehouse Arts District.

The project, dubbed the Fairfield Avenue Apartments, was first proposed in early 2022 and by HP Capital Group, the developers behind Reflection, an 18-story condominium tower under construction near Mirror Lake in downtown.

Fairfield Avenue Apartments will consist of 264 affordable and workforce apartments in three buildings with 74 one-bedroom units, 163 two-bedroom units, and 27 three-bedroom units.

November 09, 2023

The Rays propose 80-unit affordable housing building near Tropicana Field in downtown St. Pete

November 09, 2023/ Brian Zucker

The Rays and Hines, one of the largest privately held real estate investors and managers in the world, want to build an affordable housing building downtown St. Pete.

The group, which was selected to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District site, has submitted an unsolicited proposal to lease a 0.58-acre property at 1659 3rd Avenue South from the City of St. Pete with plans to construct an affordable apartment building.

The parcel is adjacent to the $6.5 billion Historic Gas Plant District but was not included in the site. This building is in addition to the proposed Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment.e

November 08, 2023

Specialty coffee shop Brothers Thomas coming to north St. Pete next month

November 08, 2023/ Brian Zucker

People who live or work in northern St. Petersburg’s Carillon neighborhood will be able to enjoy a locally owned breakfast and lunch spot when The Brothers Thomas Bespoke Café opens in December on the ground floor of the WaterView Echelon City Center apartment building at 100 Main Street North.

The owners are — you guessed it — brothers Luke and Matt Thomas, who hail from Zephyrhills. Luke, 33, is a Principal at Third Lake Partners, a Tampa-based investment advisory firm, while the 35-year-old Matt, who returned to the United States in January after a few years living abroad, will be the café’s primary operator.

The Brothers Thomas Bespoke Café will offer traditional-style coffee beverages — such as espresso, lattes, and flat whites — in portions more in line with how coffee is served in other cultures.

November 07, 2023

Plans revealed for 25-story condo-hotel on 4th Street in downtown St. Petersburg

November 07, 2023/ Anthony Close

Six months after announcing plans for a new development in downtown St. Petersburg, Clearwater-based Valor Capital is revealing new details for their mixed-use project planned for 344 4th Street South.

The 25-story building will reach a height of 325-feet and will contain 152 dwelling units or hotel units along with 4,893 square feet of commercial space and a 130-space parking garage.

The base of the tower will include retail space and a residential lobby along with a 4,000 square foot open space plaza. A sky bar is proposed for the rooftop.

November 06, 2023

New Mediterranean-style restaurant Branzini coming soon to St. Pete Beach

November 06, 2023/ Brian Hartz

The owner of German Knodle, an authentic German-cuisine eatery at 951 Central Avenue, is trying his hand at Mediterranean food with Branzini, a new restaurant slated to open by mid-November at 6800 Gulf Boulevard, in St. Pete Beach.

According to Muntaz "Tazo" Musabegovic, Branzini is going through final inspections and an official opening date should be announced soon.

“We are ready to open,” he told St. Pete Rising. “Everything is ready.”

Musabegovic is still finalizing the menu but said the restaurant’s cuisine will be “pure Mediterranean with a lot of garlic, parsley, olive oil, kalamata olives, and a lot of fish — maybe six, seven, eight different fishes. There will be steaks, burgers, lamb chops, ribs, filet mignon, pork filet mignon. There will be some pastas, a lot of different salads — 10 to 15 different styles, plus calamari, mussels, carpaccio, beef carpaccio, and a lot of other stuff.”