Asian fusion restaurant Pin on Cafe finds a new home in the Grand Central District

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Asian fusion restaurant Pin on Cafe finds a new home in the Grand Central District

Husband and wife duo Som and Roger Rattanachane, who operate Pin on Cafe and Pin Wok & Bowl in downtown St. Pete, will soon bring their Asian fusion cuisines to the Grand Central District.

Pin on Cafe, which debuted in 2021 at 1100 Central Avenue in the EDGE District, has been forced to find a new home as the existing location will be razed later this year for phase two of the EDGE Collective mixed-use development.

Known for its delicious twists on traditional Thai and Japanese dishes, Pin on Cafe is expected to debut this August at 2458 Central Avenue, formerly home to Valhalla Bakery which recently consolidated operations into the neighboring Valkyrie Doughnuts space.

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The 1888 Hotel breathes new life into historic downtown St. Pete property

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The 1888 Hotel breathes new life into historic downtown St. Pete property

As downtown St. Petersburg’s skyline becomes increasingly taller and more modern, it’s particularly refreshing to see some of the Sunshine City’s historic properties revived and repurposed.

The 1888 Hotel, at 220 5th Avenue North, is a recent example of St. Pete’s history blending with contemporary styles and trends. In its heyday, the property, which was built in 1923, was known as The Hillcrest Hotel. Managing Partners Frederick Dela Cruz and Jeffrey Pippin have renamed it The 1888 Hotel as a homage to the year the first passenger train arrived in St. Pete.

“We acquired the property in 2020, and it was a little bit of a crazy situation,” Dela Cruz said in an interview with St. Pete Rising. “A developer wanted to demolish the building and build a parking garage.”

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New Japanese cafe and bakery Samurai Cat debuts in downtown St. Pete

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New Japanese cafe and bakery Samurai Cat debuts in downtown St. Pete

Samurai Cat, a new Japanese bakery and cafe concept, has officially opened in downtown St. Petersburg.

The 1,315-square-foot space at 407 Central Avenue, the former home of Beans & Barlour cafe and dessert shop that closed in November 2023, now boats Japanese wall art and decor featuring a fierce feline warrior.

Samurai Cat is the newest foodie concept from Majestic Restaurant Group, the hospitality force behind concepts such as Zukku Sushi, Ling's Dumplings, and KH BBQ, along with the upcoming Tampa Bay debut of Japanese-born experimental fast-casual concept Pepper Lunch.

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Juno and the Peacock will replace 400 Beach in downtown St. Pete

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Juno and the Peacock will replace 400 Beach in downtown St. Pete

It’s been nine months since 400 Beach abruptly closed for renovations. However, instead of reopening, the seafood restaurant and tap house will be replaced by an entirely new restaurant and cocktail lounge expected to open this summer.

Juno and the Peacock is set to take the place of 400 Beach, a longtime staple of Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete, following a comprehensive makeover to the space.

400 Beach was an early trailblazer on Beach Drive, downtown St. Pete’s de facto restaurant row, when local restauranteur Steve Westphal opened the eatery in 2009.

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Historically St. Pete: Century-old Carnegie library stands tall on Mirror Lake

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Historically St. Pete: Century-old Carnegie library stands tall on Mirror Lake

At St. Pete Rising, we are constantly providing comprehensive coverage on everything new and coming soon to the Sunshine City, but we think it’s also important to take a look back at our city's rich history.

Introducing Historically St. Pete, a new monthly column on St. Pete Rising written by Rui Farias, Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, which will cover everything from the legend of underground mobster tunnels to the buildings and people that created the Sunshine City.

Follow us each month as we explore how these projects shaped St. Pete into the city we know and love today.

This month we explore the history of St. Petersburg’s Carnegie Library at Mirror Lake, built in 1915 and still standing today.

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Done Deals: Former Wilson's Lounge site to be redeveloped, Innovation District parcel sells, Wellness spa to open downtown

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Done Deals: Former Wilson's Lounge site to be redeveloped, Innovation District parcel sells, Wellness spa to open downtown

Done Deals is a 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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Development Review Commission approves 11-story Mirror Lake condo tower 

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Development Review Commission approves 11-story Mirror Lake condo tower 

A new version of a scaled-back Mirror Lake condominium tower is moving forward. 

During a Wednesday, March 3rd St. Petersburg Development Review Commission meeting, officials unanimously approved Skyward Living's plans to build Lake House, an 11-story upscale condo building at 200 Mirror Lake Drive North. 

The applicant St. Pete-based Skyward Living, which is helmed by St. Pete local developer Hudson Harr, must meet more than 20 different conditions for the project. 

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Tampa Bay Rays begin soliciting work for new parking garages for Gas Plant District redevelopment 

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Tampa Bay Rays begin soliciting work for new parking garages for Gas Plant District redevelopment 

The Tampa Bay Rays and the City of St. Petersburg are getting ahead of the game by soliciting work related to the proposed ballpark stadium and redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. 

Rays Stadium Co. LLC is seeking a qualified firm to provide professional design-build services for one or two event parking garages to serve a new Major League Baseball stadium, according to a March 12th solicitation notice. 

The garages will replace existing surface parking lots and will be operational during the 2025 MLB season to provide parking for Rays games and other events at Tropicana Field.

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Pagoda Asian Grill, a new concept by P.F. Chang's, to open in west St. Pete 

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Pagoda Asian Grill, a new concept by P.F. Chang's, to open in west St. Pete 

St. Pete residents will soon be able to pick up orange chicken, Mongolian beef, and stir fry at P.F. Chang's new to-go concept. 

The to-go concept coming to St. Pete was unveiled in 2022; however, it now has a name - Pagoda Asian Grill - which will open at 1550 66th Street North in the Shoppes at the Royale Plaza, according to a newly filed application. 

Barbecue restaurant Rib City previously occupied the 3,000-square-foot space. 

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36-unit condo building coming to 3rd Street in downtown St. Pete

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36-unit condo building coming to 3rd Street in downtown St. Pete

Local real estate firm NJR Investment and Development Company has revised plans for its latest St. Pete project - more than doubling the number of residential units. 

The team has filed plans for Aerie on 3rd, a 36-unit condo building that will rise at 357 3rd Street South, across from Camden Pier District.

NJR previously planned to build a 15-unit townhome community dubbed Claridge Lane Townhomes on the 0.34-acre lot. 

“We think the market can support a condo project with 36 units in a five-story building,” CEO Neil J. Rauenhorst said to St. Pete Rising. “We see continued strong demand for condos in several downtown high-profile buildings.”

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