Popular downtown poke bowl restaurant to open new location in north St. Pete

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Popular downtown poke bowl restaurant to open new location in north St. Pete

Pacific Counter is rolling into its second St. Pete location, bringing its fresh Hawaiian-style poke bowls and sushi burritos to the Northeast Shopping Center.

The fast-casual restaurant chain that “serves up a mainland mix of coastal classics” and opened its first St. Pete location at 660 Central Avenue in 2018, will expand to 210 37th Avenue North in January.

The space was previously occupied by the Island Fin Poké Company.

Pacific Counter is the brainchild of three heavy hitters in the Tampa Bay restaurant scene — Tanner Loebel, Chitthasack Noythanongsay (known as Chef Tock), and Eric Bialik.

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Voila-Merci French bakery and bistro to open in Indian Shores next month

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Voila-Merci French bakery and bistro to open in Indian Shores next month

A new French bakery and cafe is bringing authentic French pastries, cakes, croissants, and more to Indian Shores next month.

Voila-Merci French Bakery and Bistro will be located inside the bright pink building at 19525 Gulf Boulevard in front of the Dolphin Key Condominiums.

The 2,680-square-foot space was previously home to the Original Pizza Restaurant, a longtime family-operated staple with Sicilian-style pies.

“My wife [Claire] and I owned two bakeries in Lyon, France for 20 years, but we sold them in 2023. We just obtained work visas to open our first bakery in the United States,” Philippe Monnet said to St. Pete Rising.

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Done Deals: Largo shopping center sells, Old Northeast estate sells, New Year's Eve events around St. Pete

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Done Deals: Largo shopping center sells, Old Northeast estate sells, New Year's Eve events around St. Pete

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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Historically St. Pete: The enchanting history of Gulfport's Hotel Rolyat, now Stetson College of Law

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Historically St. Pete: The enchanting history of Gulfport's Hotel Rolyat, now Stetson College of Law

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.

Historically St. Pete, a monthly column on St. Pete Rising written by Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History Rui Farias, covers 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 enchanting history of Hotel Rolyat, now the Stetson College of Law, and the mysterious New York City developer who built the beautiful Mediterranean Revival-style hotel and then vanished as quickly as he arrived.

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Local urban farm debuts whimsical outdoor dining area in St. Pete

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Local urban farm debuts whimsical outdoor dining area in St. Pete

Tomatoes growing on twisted vines, heads of purple cabbage, and other leafy greens are among the dozens of crops sprouting at a half-acre lot in the heart of St. Petersburg that's been transformed into a thriving educational urban farm.

15th Street Farm, a nonprofit located at 342 15th Street North, is expanding its footprint and impact in the community.

Business leaders and St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce members recently gathered at 15th Street Farm, cutting a ceremonial ribbon celebrating the addition of a new 2,000-square-foot building that houses a kitchen with a baking station and spacious walk-in cooler, a wood-fired brick oven, and a 60-seat whimsical outdoor dining area surrounded by rows of crops.

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Triathlon retail shop Playtri to open in the Grand Central District

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Triathlon retail shop Playtri to open in the Grand Central District

With only one week left in 2024, resolutions of starting on a new fitness journey are expected to kick off and a new retail store for runners, bikers, and swimmers is coming soon to the Grand Central District that will those get a head start.

Playtri, a Dallas-based franchise specializing in supplying bikes and apparel to triathletes, is expanding to St. Pete with a new store at 2132 Central Avenue.

The space was most recently home to Jeeves Law Group, which has relocated 2100 1st Avenue South.

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Wild Child owners to open martini-focused cocktail lounge Slim Charmer in Grand Central District

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Wild Child owners to open martini-focused cocktail lounge Slim Charmer in Grand Central District

The team behind the popular Wild Child restaurant is opening a new intimate cocktail lounge in the Grand Central District early next year.

Tucked inside a charming, 1940s building adjacent to Wild Child’s patio at 2706 Central Avenue, Slim Charmer is the rebellious little sister of Wild Child and plans to offer a unique blend of bold, martini-focused cocktails and elevated, seasonal small plates.

Owned by Ron Reinsmith and Matt Kaye, the cozy 26-seat lounge is named after Kaye's wife (a former nickname of hers) and the 800-square-foot space the lounge will occupy.

The interior will boast a contemporary atmosphere inspired by New York City's metropolitan energy.

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Done Deals: $250M condo project coming to Clearwater Beach, Affordable housing complex sells, St. Pete florist sells warehouse

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Done Deals: $250M condo project coming to Clearwater Beach, Affordable housing complex sells, St. Pete florist sells warehouse

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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Former pro tennis player opens indoor pickleball facility in Largo

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Former pro tennis player opens indoor pickleball facility in Largo

An industrial warehouse-turned-pickleball facility for professionals and amateur players is opening in Largo.

Former tennis professional and native Brandon Anandan has converted a 10,400-square-foot building at 8116 Ulmerton Road into Dink House, an indoor four-court asphalt pickleball club for players at all levels.

"The transition from tennis to pickleball was easy," Anandan said to St. Pete Rising. "I found myself competing and winning tournaments. With the long wait times and people not playing properly and hurting themselves, I saw a need for a place like this."

After completing the courts years ago, Anandan has finally got the green light through the permitting process for the club, which is currently open.

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Pulpo, a new Latin and Peruvian-fusion restaurant and bar, debuts in the Grand Central District

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Pulpo, a new Latin and Peruvian-fusion restaurant and bar, debuts in the Grand Central District

Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge, a Latin and Peruvian-inspired restaurant and bar from the owners of the popular Brick and Mortar restaurant in downtown St. Pete, has opened in the Grand Central District.

The restaurant at 2147 Central Avenue boasts turquoise booths, brass accents, and a menu featuring cocktails with a kick, a fully-charred octopus, and twists on traditional ceviche. The restaurant was first reported by St. Pete Rising in January 2023.

"You will not find anything else like this in St. Petersburg," General Manager and Beverage Director Dylan Ruhe said to Rising inside the new space.

Dylan is the cousin of owner Jason Ruhe. Ruhe and his wife, Hope Montgomery, are the same duo behind downtown St. Petersburg’s Brick & Mortar Kitchen + Wine Bar. Meanwhile, Chef Marcos Bernal from Sea Worthy is the head chef of Pulpo.

Pulpo, which translates to "octopus" in Spanish, will represent a marriage of cuisines from Central and South America, and influences from Peru and Mexico.

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