Bar Mezzo, a new elevated cocktail bar concept from the owner of Intermezzo, to debut in the EDGE District 

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Bar Mezzo, a new elevated cocktail bar concept from the owner of Intermezzo, to debut in the EDGE District 

The owner behind Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails is bringing a new sister concept to the bustling EDGE District in downtown St. Pete this summer. 

Owner Jarrett Sabatini is opening a new intimate cocktail bar named Bar Mezzo at 1049 Central Avenue, formerly home to Independent Bar and just steps away from Intermezzo.

"Intermezzo will still be that low-key neighborhood bar with drinks you might find in Rome - Spritz, Americano, Negroni - simple cocktails done very well,” Sabatini said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “Whereas, Bar Mezzo will be a sophisticated cocktail experience.”

"We want this location to be a go-to nightlife cocktail bar with live music and DJs playing on the weekends," added Sabatini. 

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Tampa Bay Rays win approval of Pinellas County funding for new $1.37 billion stadium in downtown St. Pete 

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Tampa Bay Rays win approval of Pinellas County funding for new $1.37 billion stadium in downtown St. Pete 

It's official - The Tampa Bay Rays have secured local government funding for a new $1.37 billion baseball stadium in a deal that will keep the team in St. Petersburg for decades to come.

In a 5-2 vote on Tuesday afternoon, Pinellas County Commissioners approved contributing $312.5 million of tourism tax revenue towards the construction of the stadium.

The tourism tax revenue is generated by a bed tax restricted to funding tourist-related development such as hotel expansions and other projects driving economic prosperity.  

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Developer proposes 60-unit residential project on Pasadena Community Church property in west St. Pete

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Developer proposes 60-unit residential project on Pasadena Community Church property in west St. Pete

Developer Onyx & East is seeking to rezone a property in west St. Petersburg in order to build a 60-unit development that includes 40 townhomes and 20 single-family homes. 

The 5.77-acre property at 6942 1st Avenue South, currently developed with a couple buildings and a soccer field, is owned by Pasadena Community Church (PCC), which is selling the property in order to reinvest in the church’s campus. 

Pasadena Community Church, founded in 1925, is part of the United Methodist denomination. The church’s main sanctuary building is located at 227 70th Street South and will remain on the site.

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Florida Orchestra plans new performance and music center at the Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Pete 

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Florida Orchestra plans new performance and music center at the Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Pete 

The Florida Orchestra, which plays the majority of its concerts at the city-owned Mahaffey Theater, plans to build a new home in St. Petersburg. 

The organization is seeking funds to build a Center for Music Education and Innovation in a new four-story building connected to the existing Mahaffey Theater performing arts facility and concert hall at 400 1st Street South on the downtown waterfront 

The Center for Music Education and Innovation would have a rooftop performance stage, classrooms, multipurpose spaces for community events, a new loading dock, and additional storage, according to documents from the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council obtained by St. Pete Rising.

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Beloved St. Pete dive bar and restaurant Dead Bob's to relocate to bigger space this winter

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Beloved St. Pete dive bar and restaurant Dead Bob's to relocate to bigger space this winter

A month after celebrating its 10-year anniversary, beloved St. Pete dive bar and restaurant Dead Bob's will continue its legacy at a new, expanded location in west St. Pete.

The down-to-earth neighborhood hangout, known for its affordable menu and late hours, is typically buzzing with locals chowing down on comfort food and watching everything from live sports to mullet hair competitions.

That same energized and funky bar vibe that can always be found at 6716 Central Avenue will carry on just three blocks away at 6475 Central Avenue, the former home of Kay's Family Restaurant.

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Done Deals: St. Pete vintage clothing store opens, Apartments sell for nearly $30M, FreeFall Theatre sells property 

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Done Deals: St. Pete vintage clothing store opens, Apartments sell for nearly $30M, FreeFall Theatre sells property 

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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Secret bourbon bar opens on 1st Avenue North in St. Pete's EDGE District

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Secret bourbon bar opens on 1st Avenue North in St. Pete's EDGE District

A new bourbon bar hidden inside a liquor store has made its debut in St. Pete's EDGE District.

The 1st Ave Clubhouse Bourbon Bar is tucked away inside the newly relocated 1st Ave Liquors store at 1211 1st Avenue North in Suite 100, adjacent to the Zubrick Magic Theatre.

The Clubhouse, described as a speakeasy-style hangout for bourbon enthusiasts, serves expertly crafted cocktails and rare bourbon.

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$500 million financial firm to relocate headquarters to downtown St. Pete

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$500 million financial firm to relocate headquarters to downtown St. Pete

Bankers Financial Group, a nearly $500 million Pinellas County-based financial services firm, is moving its headquarters back to downtown St. Pete.

The firm, founded in St. Pete 50 years ago, recently announced it has signed a 10-year lease to occupy 54,000 square feet of Class A office space in Duke Energy's building at 299 First Avenue North.

Bankers Financial is currently located in a 100,000-square-foot space at 11101 Roosevelt Boulevard North in St. Petersburg’s Gateway area and will move to the 16-story tower in downtown St. Pete in June 2025.

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Publix on 66th Street to be demolished, rebuilt

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Publix on 66th Street to be demolished, rebuilt

Publix will close its 66th Street store this Saturday July 27th so the grocery chain can demolish the existing building and rebuild a new supermarket in its place.

The current supermarket, located at 3900 66th Street North, was built in 1976.

The city is currently reviewing a permit for Publix to build a new Publix Food & Pharmacy and a separate liquor store on the 6.25-acre site at a project cost of $10.5 million. Laura’s Five Star Jewelry on the corner of 66th Street and 38th Avenue North will not be demolished.

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BobaVita, an authentic Vietnamese boba cafe, relocates in downtown St. Pete

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BobaVita, an authentic Vietnamese boba cafe, relocates in downtown St. Pete

Mina Kreitler, a Vietnamese-born entrepreneur who has made St. Pete her home, wants locals to experience the bold and unique taste of authentic Vietnamese coffee and boba teas.

"We have boba shops on every corner in my country," Kreitler said to St. Pete Rising while working inside her new storefront on Central Avenue.

Bubble tea is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s and was introduced to the United States in the 1990s.

The BobaVita Coffee and Boba Bar has relocated to the ground floor of the Arte luxury apartment building at 1661 Central Avenue. 

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