January 27, 2025

Upscale steak and seafood restaurant The Crane opens in downtown St. Pete

January 27, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The Crane, an upscale steak and seafood restaurant with a classic cocktail bar, has officially landed in downtown St. Pete.

Although the doors quietly opened a few weeks ago, The Crane had only been offering drinks while the restaurant awaited approval to serve food.

Now, the highly-anticipated restaurant and bar, which was first announced over three years ago, is fully operational, serving both food and drinks, at 575 Central Avenue. The space was formerly home to Wig Villa, which relocated to 1200 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North.

A grand opening will be held this Friday, January 31st, according to owner Sean Thongsiri, who also owns Mangosteen, The Glass Noodle, and Green Pagoda.

January 27, 2025

Pinellas County approves over $5 million for 1,000-unit apartment community in west St. Pete

January 27, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A 1,000-unit apartment community proposed for west St. Pete is one step closer to reality after Pinellas County approved funding for the construction of the project, which will contain 300 units for workforce housing.

On January 14th, Pinellas County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved $5.25 million for the construction of the first phase of Azalea Gateway, set to rise at 1501 72nd Street North near Azalea Park.

The approved county funds are contingent upon the City of St. Pete approving an additional $6 million for phase one construction. St Pete City Council is expected to vote on the funding request in February.

January 24, 2025

Boho-inspired cafe Crave Coffee + Market to open in Seminole

January 24, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A new coffee spot serving locally made bagels and pastries is opening in Seminole.

Couple Charles and Brittany Frost are weeks away from opening for their new cafe, Crave Coffee + Market, located at 9358 Oakhurst Road in the Publix-anchored Oakhurst Plaza.

The shop will open this spring in a space previously home to coffee shop AuLeche.

"Our family mantra is 'create what you crave.' We are embracing our love of coffee and passion for bringing the community together," Brittany said to St. Pete Rising.

January 23, 2025

Pepe's Cantina Mexican Grill to open in St. Pete's Kenwood neighborhood

January 23, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Pepe's Cantina Mexican Grill will soon bring its specialty margaritas, authentic Mexican cuisine, and fresh tableside guacamole to St. Pete's Kenwood neighborhood.

The expanding Central Florida-based franchise is opening its first Tampa Bay location at 3118 3rd Avenue North in the Shoppes at Kenwood.

The 2,275-square-foot space was previously home to the Cider Press Vegan GastroPub, which closed in October 2024, and before that, it housed the iconic LGBT bar Georgie’s Alibi.

January 22, 2025

Fitness retailer Fit2Run to open new store in Tyrone Square Mall in west St. Pete

January 22, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Fit2Run is expanding with plans to open a new athletic apparel store in St. Petersburg.

Fit2Run, a family-owned Bradenton-based business selling footwear and apparel for runners, will open a new store in February at Tyrone Square Mall at 6901 22nd Avenue North.

The store will open in space 840A, replacing the Furniture Distribution Center store, which has relocated in the mall.

The announcement of the second store comes a year after the fitness retailer announced it is opening a store at the ground floor of the Camden Central apartment complex, located at 855 Central Avenue.

January 21, 2025

46-story 400 Central condo tower tops out in downtown St. Pete

January 21, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Topping out at 515 feet tall, the roof of the 46-story Residences at 400 Central condominium tower has been poured — marking the completion of vertical construction for the tallest residential building on Florida's Gulf Coast.

New York billionaire John Catsimatidis Sr., founder of development company Red Apple Group, alongside select media members, met at the site on Saturday morning for an exclusive view from atop the tower being constructed at 400 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete.

Crews from Suffolk Construction are actively building out the Sky Lounge and Observatory on the 46th floor of the tower, which Catsimatidis Sr. refers to as the “Empire State Building of St. Pete.”

January 21, 2025

Home of the Week: A 1927-built Mediterranean Revival residence in Granada Terrace

January 21, 2025/ Anthony Close

This week’s featured home is a 1927 Mediterranean Revival residence located at 2311 Brevard Road NE in the Granada Terrace Historic District of Old Northeast. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom home offers 1,708 square feet of living space in one of St. Petersburg’s most historic and scenic neighborhoods.

Designed by C. Perry Snell, the home retains many original features, such as hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings with exposed wood beams, vintage glass doorknobs, and intricate chandeliers. The layout is centered around an open-air courtyard, creating a natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. A sunroom and the primary bedroom provide views of Coffee Pot Bayou.

January 20, 2025

Oakberry Açai sets opening date for downtown St. Pete location

January 20, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A Brazilian-born brand that specializes in açai bowls and smoothies has set an opening date for its first location in Tampa Bay.

Oakberry will welcome guests to its newest shop at 205 1st Street North in downtown St. Pete on Monday, January 27th. A grand opening is scheduled for 11:00 am on Saturday February 1st, where the first 100 customers will receive a free açai bowl.

The space that Oakberry occupies was formerly home to HaleLife Bakery, which relocated to the Warehouse Arts District last year.

The St. Pete shop is owned by local St. Pete resident Sarah Schermerton Murphy, who was introduced to the Oakberry brand while playing competitive volleyball matches in Brazil and California, where the company has a major presence.

January 17, 2025

St. Pete Beach’s Hotel Zamora completes $7.5 million renovation, adds new Mediterranean restaurant

January 17, 2025/ Anthony Close

The Hotel Zamora in St. Pete Beach has reopened following a $7.5 million renovation, transforming the property into a 4-star luxury hotel.

Minneapolis-based Sherman Associates purchased the boutique hotel, located at 3701 Gulf Boulevard, for $34.65 million in 2022.

The renovation included updates to all 64 guest rooms and suites, which now feature Mediterranean-inspired designs, spa showers, and high-end air purification systems. Outdoor spaces such as the pool, gym, and rooftop lounge have also been upgraded, with the rooftop offering expansive views of the Gulf of Mexico, downtown St. Pete, and the Intracoastal Waterway.

January 16, 2025

33-story apartment tower 3rd & 3rd to begin vertical construction in downtown St. Pete

January 16, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Vertical construction is imminent at downtown St. Pete’s next high-rise tower.

Next week, crews from KAST Construction will start pouring the foundation for 3rd & 3rd, a 33-story 262-unit apartment tower currently under construction in downtown St. Pete.

It’ll be one of the largest foundation pours ever completed in the city.

The main core mat foundation pour, consisting of 4,000 cubic yards of concrete, will commence on Friday January 24th at 8:00 p.m. and last between 12 to 14 hours.

The team estimates that roughly 380 to 420 concrete trucks will make their way through the project site located at 235 3rd Street South on the northwest corner of 3rd Avenue South and 3rd Street directly across from the Publix-anchored University Village shopping center.