January 03, 2024

Fit2Run finds a new home on Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete

January 03, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Fitness retailer Fit2Run is relocating to a new downtown St. Pete site as its existing bright yellow building will be demolished as part of a planned redevelopment.

Fit2Run, a family-owned Bradenton-based business selling footwear and apparel for runners, has inked a lease to occupy ground floor space at the Camden Central apartment complex, located at 855 Central Avenue in St. Pete's Central Arts District.

The relocation from the 256 2nd Street North storefront, which the retailer has operated since 2012, comes as Delray Beach-based Kolter Group plans to build a 14-story, 192-room Tempo by Hilton hotel at the site.

Fit2Run has over 20 stores throughout Florida, specializing in matching runners to the right shoes for their training needs.

January 02, 2024

Vermont clothing boutique Harbour Thread to expand to St. Pete

January 02, 2024/ Brian Hartz

A men’s and women’s clothing and accessories shop that’s based in Burlington, Vermont, is coming to St. Petersburg in 2024.

Harbour Thread has leased a 2,447-square-foot space at 40 and 60 22nd Street South in a newly constructed retail strip in the Grand Central District. Erica Delgado of Vector Commercial Real Estate Services represented Harbour Thread in the lease transaction.

Construction began earlier this year on the new retail building located at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street. Miami-based real estate investor Nick Molina purchased the former surface parking lot in December 2021.

Founded by Llyndara Harbour nearly two decades ago, Harbour Thread offers a huge range of clothing for men and women, footwear, jewelry, swimwear, blankets, towels, and even candles, greeting cards, and drinkware.

December 21, 2023

23-story luxury condo tower The Nolen tops out in downtown St. Pete

December 21, 2023/ Anthony Close

Construction on one of downtown St. Petersburg’s newest condominium towers has reached a milestone with Ellison Construction announcing that The Nolen has topped out.

The Nolen is a 23-story condominium tower under construction at 126 4th Avenue Northeast. The condominium tower is being developed by Tampa-based DDA Development, which is led by Bowen Arnold and John Schilling. Ellison Construction broke ground on the development in October 2022.

At 288-feet, The Nolen is among the ten tallest buildings in St. Petersburg.

December 20, 2023

Proposed 60-unit affordable housing project receives $2.74 million from the City of St. Pete

December 20, 2023/ Brian Zucker

St. Petersburg City Council recently approved a resolution to allocate $2,740,000 in City funds for the construction of a new three-story affordable housing community in south St. Pete.

The new project, named Bayou Court Apartments, is set to rise near the southeast corner of Lake Maggiore at 4201 6th Street South.

The two-acre property, which was formerly home to The Old Landmark Cathedral of God, was purchased by Gravel Road Partners in 2022 for $1.7 million.

“We are an acutely focused workforce and affordable housing developer along the east coast,” said Tyler Herbert, Founding Partner at Washington D.C.-based Gravel Road Partners, during the November 30th City Council meeting. “We have about 1,200 units in our pipeline and all we do is public-private partnerships.”

December 19, 2023

Bayfront Health breaks ground on major campus expansion in downtown St. Pete's Innovation District

December 19, 2023/ Anthony Close

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg has begun construction on a major expansion of its downtown campus that will further cement the hospital as a prominent anchor of the Innovation District.

When Orlando Health purchased Bayfront Hospital St. Petersburg in 2020, it pledged to revive the 480-bed hospital after years of financial turmoil under its former owner. Orlando Health’s promise included not only strengthening the hospital’s charity care programs but to also restore Bayfront as a premier healthcare facility in St. Petersburg in both patient care and facilities provided.

December 19, 2023

ARK Innovation Center completion marks new era for St. Pete’s entrepreneurial scene

December 19, 2023/ Guest

The long-awaited ARK Innovation Center will officially open next month - creating a first-of-its-kind entrepreneurial hub in Pinellas County.

ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Pinellas County Economic Development Director Cynthia Johnson, among leaders from the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, cut a ribbon Monday morning, celebrating the completion of the 45,000-square-foot facility at 1101 4th Street South.

In the coming months, engineers, data scientists and entrepreneurs will fill the center's empty suites, conference rooms, and 3D-printing, and prototyping studios.

December 15, 2023

Aerial St. Pete: Construction boom to bring thousands of new apartments to St. Pete in 2024

December 15, 2023/ Anthony Close

This month’s edition of Aerial St. Pete shows the progress on several real estate developments throughout St. Petersburg, FL. Aerial St. Pete is a column by St. Pete Rising which features exclusive aerial photography of projects under construction in St. Pete.

To accomplish this, we have teamed up with AB3 Visuals.

In this article we are taking a look at: Arya, Lake Maggiore Apartments, Marina Club Apartments, Marlowe Gateway, and Terraces at 87th.

These projects include four apartment developments and one townhome community. The four apartment developments are located in neighborhoods outside of downtown St. Petersburg and will bring over 1,500 new apartments to St. Petersburg once completed in 2024.

December 13, 2023

Cheeky's, a fish and chicken bar, is coming to the Grand Central District

December 13, 2023/ Brian Zucker

Cheeky’s, a raw bar and seafood grill with classic fried chicken, will debut in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District in mid-2024.

The new concept will be located at 2823 Central Avenue in a portion of the building formerly home to China Finders, a specialty china shop which closed earlier this year after more than 30 years in business.

Cheeky’s is being brought to life by Tampa native Nate Siegel, co-founder of Tampa’s award-winning Willa’s, a neighborhood restaurant and bar, and Willa’s Provisions, a casual all-day café.

“Coming to St. Pete is a dream come true, and opening a new little place along Central Avenue like Cheeky’s is so exciting,” said Siegel. “This is already such a special community, and I am honored to become a small part of it alongside my friends at Bandit, Baba, Wild Child. and more.”

December 13, 2023

Sarasota tapas and wine bar Bohemios to open in downtown St. Pete

December 13, 2023/ Brian Hartz

Bohemios, a tapas restaurant and wine bar that debuted five years ago in Sarasota, is planning to open a downtown St. Petersburg location in early February.

It will be located in the former BurgerFi on the ground floor of the Camden Central Apartments at 875 Central Avenue. The restaurant will be next to Tweeds, a custom menswear and suit shop, and Top Buttons, an upscale pre-owned women's boutique, which were both previously announced on St. Pete Rising.

The name, Bohemios, is Spanish for “Bohemian”, a free, easygoing lifestyle focused on art, music, and spirituality. "A perfect fit for St. Petersburg,” said Bohemios owner Ronaldo Zeledon in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

December 12, 2023

Pan-Asian steakhouse Fortu is now open in downtown St. Pete

December 12, 2023/ Brian Zucker

Fortu, a pan-Asian restaurant and steakhouse, quietly opened a few weeks ago at 95 Central Avenue on the ground floor of the Ponce de Leon Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg.

The space had been occupied since 1997 by Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant, which moved to 332 Beach Drive NE, formerly home to The Moon Under Water, in 2021.

According to the Fortu website, the restaurant seeks to elevate the Pan-Asian dining scene “with our lush environment and buzz-worthy bites.” Its traditionally prepared dishes are made using locally sourced seafood and other ingredients.