March 14, 2024

Florida’s largest co-living developer to build more shared housing in St. Pete

March 14, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Rents continue to soar in St. Petersburg where demand outpaces supply, but one local property management and development firm is addressing the economic issue by building innovative co-living spaces throughout the city.

In a co-living space, house members share kitchens, living rooms, and other communal areas.

St. Petersburg-based Docked Living, a co-living developer that delivers a membership-based housing subscription rather than a traditional lease, is flipping several dormant properties. The company is Florida's largest co-living developer.

March 13, 2024

Interactive indoor playground and kid-friendly cafe to open on Central Avenue in St. Pete

March 13, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

An interactive playhouse with everything from structures resembling castles where kids can role-play to a kid-friendly cafe serving coffee and pastries will open in downtown St. Petersburg.

The new business, Run and Play Kids Cafe, is a joint venture between Jessica Gavin, owner of downtown's first toy shop Runrun Kids Store, and Hannah Rewarts, founder of the mobile coffee truck Bean Wandering.

The space at 3950 Central Avenue, next door to the Runrun Kids Store, will have a 1,110-square-foot play area designed for children ages 6 months to 9 years old, as there will be separated and gated play zones with toys found at the Runrun Kids Store.

March 12, 2024

New brewery to open in St. Pete’s former Brutalist Brewery

March 12, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Craft beer will pour once again inside the former home of The Brutalist Temple of Beer in St. Petersburg.

Richie and Jill Hamm, owners of the newly registered Freedom Brewing Co., purchased the 10,7470-square-foot industrial property at 1776 11th Avenue North in a $2.3 million deal.

The new owners plan to open and operate a unique brewery concept that will utilize the entire interior and the outdoor patio, according to a press release from Bridgewater Commercial Real Estate.

March 12, 2024

Legacy of iconic Munch’s Restaurant to continue at Tchotchke

March 12, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

When restaurateur Matthew Firosz signed the lease for the old Munch's Restaurant and Sundries, Firosz knew he wanted to honor the nostalgic history tied to the space now reopening under a different name.

Longtime owner Larry Munch and his family served breakfast for 70 years at 3920 6th Street South in southeast St. Pete before Munch announced his retirement and closed the restaurant in late 2022.

"We need to embrace what was here. The Munch family has owned this place since 1952 - that's a real testament to this industry," Firosz said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. "We can make new memories in this space while paying tribute to what came before us."

March 11, 2024

80-unit affordable housing building approved for 4th Street North in St. Pete

March 11, 2024/ Anthony Close

An 80-unit affordable apartment building aimed at addressing the critical need for low-cost housing for seniors has received unanimous approval from the city’s Development Review Commission.

The green light has been given for the Flats on 4th project, a $37.5 million endeavor set to be constructed on a currently undeveloped parcel at the southwest corner of the intersection of 106th Avenue North and 4th Street North in north St. Pete.

The Flats on 4th, a four-story mid-rise building, will house 52 one-bedroom units and 28 two-bedroom units, providing housing options for residents with incomes between 40 to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).