Oddities shop and tattoo studio Culture Shock opens in downtown St. Pete

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Oddities shop and tattoo studio Culture Shock opens in downtown St. Pete

Getting a tattoo can be scary for first-timers, but getting inked while surrounded by items of the occult is on another level.

Ben Harris, a longtime local bartender, is marrying the macabre and curated art collection at his new business concept, Culture Shock, an oddity shop and tattoo studio that quietly opened earlier this week at 244 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North in downtown St. Petersburg.

With its ominous allure, black shelves line the tall walls inside the 3,600-square-foot space, displaying religious iconography, funeral and burial photos, creepy dolls, foreign weaponry, and taxidermy.

There are also items from Harris' procured personal collection, including a hatchet belonging to the notorious Butcher of Plainfield serial killer Ed Gein, eerie paintings of clowns, tribal spears, Ouija boards, and crosses.

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Construction continues on Castille Urbana, a 40-unit condo building on 3rd Avenue South

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Construction continues on Castille Urbana, a 40-unit condo building on 3rd Avenue South

The Castille Urbana condominium building, which is under construction at 600 3rd Avenue South, is beginning to take shape.

After completing the building’s podium and parking deck in 2023, vertical construction resumed in mid-January with crews starting on second-floor exterior block work.  

When complete, the five-story building in downtown St. Petersburg will feature 40 condominiums with two- and three-bedroom floor plans, ranging from 1,158 to 1,650 square feet.

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New women’s boutique Bay Club opens on 4th Street

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New women’s boutique Bay Club opens on 4th Street

St. Petersburg is proving to be a popular destination for women’s clothing boutiques. After a handful of new boutiques opened last year, another, Bay Club, recently debuted at 4401 4th Street North. Melinda Kulpa of KW Commercial represented Bay Club in the lease transaction.

Owner Rachel Rawles, a veteran of the fashion industry, said she’s hoping to bring something new and exciting to the Sunshine City.

“I was at Spanx for the past 10 years designing women's wear,” Rawles said. “So, this is new for me, opening up a store, but I've always been in fashion and design, and I’m super excited to share a different style — something that's not here yet.” 

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Sweetgreen still opening in St. Pete, set to debut this year in the EDGE District

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Sweetgreen still opening in St. Pete, set to debut this year in the EDGE District

First announced in January 2022, Sweetgreen’s arrival in St. Petersburg is back on track.

The Los Angeles-based, fast-casual restaurant, which serves made-to-order salads, leased space at 1114 Central Avenue in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete, with a goal of opening in late 2022.

A huge ‘coming soon’ banner was erected and the site became a hive of construction activity. However, shortly thereafter, the banner was removed and workers were nowhere to be seen.

But recently, a construction crew was spotted on-site again.

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It’s official: Whole Foods announces opening date for St. Pete store

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It’s official: Whole Foods announces opening date for St. Pete store

The highly anticipated opening date of St. Petersburg’s first Whole Foods Market has been announced.

The Austin, Texas-based specialty grocery store chain has planned a grand opening of its St. Pete store for February 28th at 201 38th Avenue North.

“The store’s design draws inspiration from St. Petersburg, nicknamed the ‘Sunshine City’ for its association with sundials,” Whole Foods Market said in a press release. “A prominent glowing sun greets customers while decor elements throughout the store incorporate sun rays and a palette of warm colors.”

Opening morning, shoppers will be able to enjoy complimentary coffee and breakfast bites. The first 300 customers in line will receive a limited-edition tote bag and a Secret Saver coupon featuring offers up to $100 off.

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State of the City: Mayor Welch promises equitable development through Rays deal, more housing, and business opportunities

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State of the City: Mayor Welch promises equitable development through Rays deal, more housing, and business opportunities

Residents, leaders from nonprofits, and the descendants of the Historic Gas Plant District filled the seats in The Palladium, applauding Mayor Ken Welch on the city's achievements over 2023 and what's in the cards for this year.

Once again, the redevelopment of the 86-acre former Gas Plant District took center stage at the State of the City address, held Tuesday, January 30th.

St. Pete’s partnership with the Hines and Tampa Bay Rays joint venture was first announced at last year's State of the City address.

"We've met every project milestone working diligently with partners and finalizing an agreement to bring the 40-year saga to a positive conclusion," Welch said.

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Jeremiah's Italian Ice to take over former Kahwa Coffee in west St. Pete

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Jeremiah's Italian Ice to take over former Kahwa Coffee in west St. Pete

Orlando-based Jeremiah’s Italian Ice will soon be scooping up its iconic frozen treats in St. Petersburg.

Jeremiah’s will be located at 4850 Park Street North, formerly home to Kahwa Coffee, in west St. Pete, according to the company’s website. The new shop will be situated just north of Tyrone Boulevard in a shopping center anchored by Kohl’s, Ross, and Total Wine.

The 1,800-square-foot St. Pete outpost will be owned by local franchisee Shawn Shbib, who opened his first Jeremiah’s three years ago at 13100 Seminole Boulevard Suite 103 in Largo. In addition to St. Pete, Shbib is also planning a Clearwater location at 541 S Ft. Harrison Avenue.

"The best franchise to own is one that you're passionate about. What drew me to Jeremiah's was the culture and business model,” said Schbib in a Facebook post in 2020. “Enjoy what you do and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. Live life to the coolest!”

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Former Lealman mobile home park to become 17-unit affordable housing development

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Former Lealman mobile home park to become 17-unit affordable housing development

A local nonprofit plans to convert the Wood Acres mobile home park in Pinellas’ Lealman community into an affordable housing complex. 

Pinelllas Affordable Living Inc. (PAL), a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) established by the Boley Centers that has developed multiple housing communities for low-income residents and those suffering from mental illnesses, is expected to enter a ground lease deal for the property at 3901 46th Avenue North.

The group intends to build 17 apartments for households at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI) with four units set aside for households earning below 33% of the AMI. 

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Done Deals: New retail on Central, revitalizing Williams Park, affordable housing tops out

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Done Deals: New retail on Central, revitalizing Williams Park, affordable housing tops out

Done Deals is a new weekly column by St. Pete Rising spotlighting recent real estate market insight and significant deals happening in the Sunshine City and beyond. The following information is sourced from public records and trusted intel.

Have real estate news to share? Send us an email at hello@stpeterising.com.

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First phase of luxury townhome project is complete near the EDGE District

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First phase of luxury townhome project is complete near the EDGE District

Two more townhome buildings will rise at 302 15th Street North, a site near St. Pete's bustling EDGE District where developer Onyx+East is building a 26-unit townhome community.

"The EDGE District is vibrant, and we are excited to be a part of its momentum. It was a target for us as we look to provide housing opportunities for all kinds of urban neighborhoods," Onyx+East CEO Kelli Lawrence said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

"All the townhomes in the Alante development have rooftop terraces on the fourth floor, providing views of the downtown skyline and Tropicana Field," she added. 

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