November 07, 2024

Prominent developer purchases over four acres in St. Pete Beach, plans mixed-use condo project

November 07, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Delray Beach-based real estate developer Kolter Urban has acquired 4.5 acres of waterfront property on St. Pete Beach, with the intention of developing a mixed-use residential project on the site.

Kolter has developed numerous condo towers in downtown St. Pete, including ONE St. Petersburg, which opened in 2019; Saltaire, which opened in 2023; and the upcoming Art House, which is on track to debut in 2025.

On Monday, Kolter paid $9.85 million for a vacant property at the east end of Corey Avenue that was previously slated to be developed into Corey Landing, a 243-unit apartment community with restaurants, shops, a park, and boat docks.

November 07, 2024

49-story Waldorf Astoria Residences approved by St. Pete development commission

November 07, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Shovels may hit the ground in the future for the 49-story Waldorf Astoria Residences in downtown St. Pete, which would become the city's first hotel-branded luxury condominium.

During a Tuesday Development Review Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously approved the site plan, floor area ratio bonuses, and a building height bonus for the massive tower that would rise at 150 2nd Avenue South.

With the new approval of the DRC and recent passing from the City Council acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, the team will need additional approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

November 06, 2024

Upscale seafood restaurant Sea Salt to close after nearly a decade in downtown St. Pete

November 06, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Downtown St. Pete staple Sea Salt, an upscale Venetian-inspired seafood restaurant, will permanently close by the end of the year after nearly a decade in business.

Located at 183 2nd Avenue North in the Sundial shopping plaza, the restaurant will serve its last meal on December 31st, according to an announcement from the owners and husband-and-wife Ingrid Aielli and Chef Fabrizio Aielli.

The owners of Sundial are not wasting any time filling the soon-to-be empty space. In a conversation with St. Pete Rising, a representative from Paradise Ventures hinted that discussions are ongoing with a replacement tenant for the Sea Salt space and stated, “good things are in the works.”

As for Sea Salt, the owners sent out an email to their customers stating, “The past 10 years have been nothing short of amazing.”

November 05, 2024

New indoor pickleball facilities are coming to St. Pete

November 05, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Tampa Bay pickleball enthusiasts will soon have more indoor courts to choose from as a growing pickleball club franchise has inked a deal to expand to the Sunshine City.

St. Pete residents Kevin and Lisa Goettel have signed on to bring Dill Dinkers, a Columbia, Maryland-based chain of pickleball clubs, to Pinellas County.

Founded in 2022 by pickleball enthusiasts Will and Denise Richards (no, not that Denise Richards), Dill Dinkers was born from the founders’ frustration with weather-related disruptions, long wait times, and mixed-use facilities that were not ideal for pickleball play.

The local husband-and-wife team plan to open at least 10 Dill Dinkers pickleball clubs throughout the county, spanning from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.

November 04, 2024

Cinnaholic gourmet cinnamon rolls coming to 4th Street North

November 04, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Cinnaholic, a vegan bakery franchise specializing in customizable gourmet cinnamon rolls, is expanding in Tampa Bay with its first St. Petersburg sweet shop.

The Berkeley, California-based franchise will open a 1,225-square-foot shop at 5250 4th Street North in a space previously occupied by Nutrishop, which relocated to 10338 Roosevelt Boulevard North in the Ibis Walk Shopping Center.

An opening date has not yet been announced.

Cinnaholic, which has a South Tampa location, serves "create your own" cinnamon rolls with over 20 frosting flavors and more than 20 topping choices to select from.