Family-friendly Swell Coffee debuts in Largo with house-made syrups and baked goods

/
Family-friendly Swell Coffee debuts in Largo with house-made syrups and baked goods

A new cozy kid-friendly coffee shop has made its debut in Largo.

Swell Coffee, a specialty coffee shop with house-made syrups and pastries from local bakeries, celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, January 28th, near the corner of Bryan Dairy Road and Starkey Road at 11148 Starkey Road.

The 1,500-square-foot space was previously occupied by Subway.

“We looked at more than 30 spaces in a six-month window. We've had this space in July, but the hurricanes set us back on the opening date,” Sarah Cerny said.

Read More

Cool Vibes Pub & Grub expands to St. Pete Beach with new bar and entertainment venue

/
Cool Vibes Pub & Grub expands to St. Pete Beach with new bar and entertainment venue

The Cool Vibes Pub & Grub restaurant in St. Petersburg known for its divey sports bar atmosphere and elevated bar food, is expanding to the waterfront on St. Pete Beach.

The local watering hole, which will continue operating at its flagship location at 5488 58th Street North, will open a second spot dubbed Cool Vibes on the Beach at 6800 Sunset Way fronting the bright pink Gulf Winds Resort.

An exact opening date has not yet been announced.

Read More

Home of the Week: A 1922-built two-story bungalow in Historic Uptown

/
Home of the Week: A 1922-built two-story bungalow in Historic Uptown

This week’s featured home is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow located at 605 7th Street N in Historic Uptown. Built in 1922, this home blends vintage character with modern upgrades and is listed for $615,000.

Spanning 1,126 square feet, the property offers a comfortable and low-maintenance lifestyle in one of St. Petersburg’s most eclectic neighborhoods.

The kitchen stands out with wood-like tile flooring, white shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, a pot filler over the gas range, stainless steel appliances, and an apron-front sink. A central island ties the space together, making it a functional hub for daily life.

Read More

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

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

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.

Read More

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

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

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.

Read More

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

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

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.

Read More

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

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

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.

Read More

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

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

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.

Read More

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

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

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.”

Read More

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

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

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.

Read More