TikTok famous coffee company to open cafe in downtown St. Pete

TikTok famous coffee company to open cafe in downtown St. Pete

A local mobile coffee truck that has garnered a large following through viral TikTok videos will open a new cafe in downtown St. Pete.

Next month, Bean Wandering will bring its popular canned-to-order iced coffee, in addition to a small food menu from The Crumb Factory, to the ground floor of the 12-story City Center office building.

City Center, located at 100 2nd Avenue South, was previously home to restaurant chain Nature's Table. Bean Wandering will replace Nature’s Table in a reconfigured space in the building’s lobby.

“This started as a hobby in June 2023 when we did our first pop-up event in front of my mom’s house in Tampa. I never thought I'd have a physical coffee shop and could afford a space in downtown St. Pete,” owner Hanna Rewerts said to St. Pete Rising.

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New 85-unit affordable housing community for seniors opens in West St. Pete

New 85-unit affordable housing community for seniors opens in West St. Pete

More than 85 seniors earning low-income wages have a new modern apartment in St. Pete to call home.

Earlier today, developer Blue Sky Communities and Park & Eleazer Construction cut the ribbon on the new 85-unit Bear Creek Commons affordable housing complex at 635 64th Street South in west St. Pete, adjacent to Bear Creek, a 2.7-mile stream that flows to Boca Ciega Bay. 

The property was previously home to Grace Connection Church before construction commenced in 2023.

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Savage Coffees to debut trendy cafe in downtown St. Pete

Savage Coffees to debut trendy cafe in downtown St. Pete

A new boutique coffee shop is set to open in downtown St. Petersburg at the base of The Nolen condominium building, located at 126 4th Avenue Northeast.

The building’s developer, DDA Development, has announced an agreement to sell its ground-level retail space to Savage Coffees, a renowned family-operated coffee producer and roastery from the Republic of Panama. The company operates a roastery at 2756 25th Street North in St. Pete.

This café will mark Savage Coffees’ first retail location in the United States and is scheduled to open in 2025.

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Upscale rooftop bar and restaurant Sparrow sets opening date in the EDGE District

Upscale rooftop bar and restaurant Sparrow sets opening date in the EDGE District

An expansive new rooftop bar and Asian-fusion restaurant with a 1960s retro vibe is making its debut at the newly opened Moxy Hotel by Marriott in St. Pete's EDGE District.

The 4,000-square-foot Sparrow is nestled on the top of the boutique hotel at 1234 Central Avenue, will open to the public on Friday December 20th.

Jake Wurzak, president of Wurzak Hotel Group, which manages the 163-key Moxy Hotel, describes Sparrow as an upscale bar “but not a velvet-rope kind of vibe,” adding, “we are bringing it to St. Pete because it has been so successful in Fort Lauderdale. And we think a lot of what we did in Fort Lauderdale will do fantastic in St. Pete. We're making some additional enhancements, as well.”

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City receives three proposals to bring affordable housing to prime lot on 22nd Street South

City receives three proposals to bring affordable housing to prime lot on 22nd Street South

Three development groups are vying to redevelop a South St. Pete property, once home to a historic cultural landmark, into a mixed-use destination with affordable housing and retail.

The new proposals were received after the City of St. Petersburg issued a request for proposals (RFP) for developers interested in redeveloping the three vacant parcels at 951 22nd Street South, a site that once housed the historic Merriwether Building, which supported and housed African American and Jewish entrepreneurs when racial and social restrictions were in place.

The developers that submitted proposals include South Florida-based Green Mills Group, Fort Lauderdale-based real estate and development firm Alexander Goshen and partner Goode Van Slyke Architecture, and not-for-profit group Making Opportunities Materialize Inc. (MOM).

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Done Deals: Dali Museum expansion moves forward, Top law firm relocates due to crane collapse, Barbershop moves downtown

Done Deals: Dali Museum expansion moves forward, Top law firm relocates due to crane collapse, Barbershop moves 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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St. Pete approves bonds to fund new Tampa Bay Rays stadium and Gas Plant District development

St. Pete approves bonds to fund new Tampa Bay Rays stadium and Gas Plant District development

Despite uncertainty surrounding the future of Major League Baseball in St. Petersburg, the City Council has voted to move forward with plans for a new $1.3 billion stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays and the redevelopment of the adjacent 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District.

During a meeting on Thursday, the City Council narrowly approved the issuance of $287.5 million in tax-exempt bonds with a 4-3 vote. These bonds will contribute to the $600 million in public funding for the stadium, along with $142 million allocated for infrastructure improvements in the reimagined district.

Council members Sandra Figgs-Sanders, Copley Gerdes, Brandi Gabbard, and Gina Driscoll voted in favor of the bond issuance, while Richie Floyd, Lisset Hanewicz, and John Muhammad opposed it.

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Malai Indian Cuisine takes over Tropez space in downtown St. Pete

Malai Indian Cuisine takes over Tropez space in downtown St. Pete

The family behind the popular Taste of Punjab Indian restaurant in Largo has expanded to downtown St. Petersburg with a new restaurant serving traditional Indian dishes.

A few days ago, owners Rajinder Singh (also head chef) and Inderjit Kaur quietly opened Malai Indian Cuisine at 437 Central Avenue. The space was formerly home to Tropez which closed earlier this year.

“We love Largo, but we have so many customers asking us to bring our Indian food to St. Pete and this is the perfect space,” the owners said to St. Pete Rising.

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St. Pete's biggest annual St. Patrick's Day party Paddy Fest is back this March

St. Pete's biggest annual St. Patrick's Day party Paddy Fest is back this March

Paddy Fest St. Pete is returning to Williams Park in downtown St. Pete on Saturday, March 15th, 2025 for the 3rd year in a row with loads of Irish food, drinks, music, and family fun festivities.

The Irish festival will feature a day full of entertainment from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm with the local bagpipers Rising Young Pipers, St. Pete Irish Dancers, leprechaun wrestling, and much more. 

Paddy Fest St. Pete is put on by local entrepreneurs Kat Van Dora and Pete Boland from PMB Events, co-owners of Mary Margaret’s, who aim to make the event one St. Pete’s most impactful family-friendly events, having raised over $25,000 for its charity partners since its inception.

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A new chapter: The Book Rescuers opens massive used bookstore in Largo with over 100,000 books

A new chapter: The Book Rescuers opens massive used bookstore in Largo with over 100,000 books

An encyclopedia of Greek mythology, recordings of wars from the frontlines, and children's books dating back to the 70s and beyond line the wooden shelves inside The Book Rescuers’ new 14,000-square-foot warehouse.

Husband and wife duo George and Sarah Brooks, who save over 10 tons (20,000 pounds) of books per week from the landfill, have relocated their massive book collection and store to 8325 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

The Book Rescuers, which is now open, is nearly quadruple the size of their previous 3,600-square-foot warehouse in Pinellas Park and features over 100,000 books.

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