January 11, 2024

Floridian Social Club is for sale, but legacy may continue

January 11, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

The Floridian Social Club, previously known as the State Theatre, has stood the test of time - outliving St. Pete’s other historic performance venues - and the owner wants it to continue to serve the community for another 100 years.

"Yes, it's for sale, but I'm not going anywhere. I’m staying in St. Pete," owner Kevin Chadwick said. "What's important to me is finding the right equity and operating partner who can take the club to the next level."

Although Chadwick desires to be part of the Floridian Social Club’s future, he is willing to completely step away and hand over the keys to the right buyer.

Chadwick is working with Wendy Giffin, Managing Director of commercial real estate group Cushman and Wakefield, in securing a new partner.

January 10, 2024

105-unit affordable townhome project planned for St. Petersburg College site in west St. Pete

January 10, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

The City of St. Petersburg is taking the next step towards turning a St. Petersburg College property in west St. Pete into an affordable housing development for students and staff.

This week, the St. Petersburg Community Planning and Preservation Commission voted to approve a rezoning land use amendment paving the way for the city to purchase SPC's former Gibbs Wellness Center property.

The city plans to build 105 affordable workforce townhomes with 30% of the units reserved for students, teachers, and faculty. The eligible students and faculty will have the right of first refusal to purchase the homes.

January 10, 2024

First look at three-story steakhouse planned for historic bank building in downtown St. Pete

January 10, 2024/ Brian Hartz

A year after it was first announced, the historic Union Trust bank building, at 895 Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg, is on track to be reborn as J. Fiore’s Contemporary Steakhouse, an upscale steak and seafood restaurant, set to open in mid-2024.

The renovation of the property’s basement, ground floor, and mezzanine has been a major undertaking, requiring substantial planning, design, and construction.

“We are all-hands-on-deck right now,” said St. Pete-based entrepreneur Jim Fiore. “The 2,000-square-foot extension of the mezzanine is complete and the HVAC, plumbing, and electric is all being installed as we speak.”

January 09, 2024

Developer moves forward on 25-story hybrid short-term rental condo project on 4th Street

January 09, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

A new ultra high-end 25-story condominium tower, with a mix of short-term rental and permanent residential units, will rise on 4th Street South.

Clearwater-based real estate firm Valor Capital plans to build a 152-unit upscale condo development at 332, 340, and 344 4th Street South. The property is located at the intersection of 4th Street South and 4th Avenue South and was assembled in a series of purchases that closed in 2022 for $5.2 million.

In an exclusive interview with St. Pete Rising, Valor Capital CEO Moises Agami said the $55 million project will be renamed Roche Bobois Residences as the team is working with the Paris, France-based luxury furniture designer Roche Bobois. Gomez Vazquez International is the building’s architect.

January 09, 2024

Good Night John Boy owners to open camping-inspired bar on Central Avenue

January 09, 2024/ Brian Hartz

Nearly a year after being announced, Nauti Duchess, a nautical-themed bar and full-service restaurant that was set to take over 217 Central Avenue, never made it out of port.

But a new concept from Forward Hospitality Group, the owners of Good Night John Boy and Welcome to the Farm, is now slated to occupy the prime downtown location. Most recently, the space was home to Caddy’s on Central, which closed in 2020 after COVID-19 shut down all restaurants and bars in Florida.

Glamper, according to Michael Schwartz of Forward Hospitality Group, is a bar inspired by camping, backyard cookouts, Fourth of July celebrations, and other summertime activities. Like Good Night John Boy and Welcome to the Farm, the concept debuted in Cleveland before coming to St. Pete.

January 08, 2024

Owners of Bandit Coffee to open wine bar in the Grand Central District

January 08, 2024/ Brian Hartz

The wine bar craze shows no signs of abating as Spitz Wine Bar, a new concept founded by the owners of Bandit Coffee Co., announced that it has leased space at 2520 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District with plans to open sometime in the first half of 2024.

The space is currently home to Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies, which will be moving in February to 6340 Central Avenue and share a space with Traditions School of Herbal Studies.

Spitz Wine Bar offered few details in an Instagram post, writing, “It’s official, y’all, we’ve signed a lease and have set a path to open early/mid next year within the Grand Central District. More details to come.” Its Instagram page says the bar will offer “real wines” and “tasty bites.”

January 05, 2024

Welch selects group to reimagine St. Pete Municipal Marina

January 05, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

The aging 640-slip St. Pete Municipal Marina is one step closer to undergoing a major overhaul.

Mayor Ken Welch has selected Safe Harbor Marinas LLC for the redevelopment and operational management of the marina adjacent to the St. Pete Pier, according to City Development Administrator James Corbett.

The selection comes in response to the city’s Request for Proposal (RFP), which was published in April 2023. In addition to Safe Harbor Marinas, the city received a proposal from Dallas-based Suntex Marina Investors.

Welch informed city staff of his selection in mid-December and directed the team to begin the negotiation process with the Safe Harbor Marinas group this month.

January 05, 2024

20-story, 360-unit mixed-use development approved for St. Pete’s EDGE District

January 05, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

PTM Partners, the group behind the EDGE Collective development in St. Pete's EDGE District, is moving forward with plans for a second phase of the project, further connecting Central Avenue and the Historic Gas Plant Development.

During a recent St. Petersburg City Council meeting, the councilmembers, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), unanimously approved the second phase of the EDGE Collective project.

The $98.5 million project, dubbed EDGE Collective II, is the second phase of the EDGE Collective development that broke ground in January 2022 on the 1100 Block of Central Avenue.

January 04, 2024

Barbershop chain with rock 'n' roll flair to open on Central Avenue in St. Pete's EDGE District

January 04, 2024/ Brian Hartz

The EDGE Collective, a mixed-use development anchored by a 163-key Moxy by Marriott hotel, has landed another commercial tenant – Floyd’s 99 Barbershop – a rock ‘n’ roll themed hair salon.

Located at 1234-1246 Central Avenue, the EDGE Collective is currently under construction and consists of a Moxy by Marriott hotel and a renovated four-story building at 1246 Central Avenue, which will contain 8,000 square feet of food and beverage space on the ground floor and 16,000 square feet of commercial space on the upper floors.

The Moxy hotel is expected to open sometime in the first half of 2024.

Previously announced tenants at the EDGE Collective include Rose’s Coffee Bar; solidcore, a pilates studio; and Sparrow, a bar and restaurant on the roof of the Moxy hotel.

January 03, 2024

Plans shift for 23-story apartment building proposed for 17th Street South in downtown St. Pete

January 03, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Plans have shifted for a 23-story apartment building that was proposed in 2022 for 17th Street South in downtown St. Pete.

In late December, Miami-based commercial real estate investment firms Black Salmon and LD&D purchased the property at 155 17th Street South in a roughly $9 million deal from Apogee Real Estate Partners, a St. Pete-based real estate firm led by John Barkett and John Stadler.

The South Florida joint venture also assumed a $5.12 million mortgage loan from Apogee.

The purchase follows the city's recent streamlined approval of minor modifications to the 0.77-acre site which increased the project’s unit count from 204 to 260, decreased the retail space from 6,000 square feet to 4,961 square feet, and decreased the number of parking spaces from 300 to 260.The project’s height of 299 feet and FAR of 7.0 remains unchanged.