January 30, 2025

BayCare buys Barnes & Noble property in west St. Pete, plans emergency room facility

January 30, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A Barnes & Noble located across from the Tyrone Square Mall in west St. Pete will be converted into a freestanding emergency center.

BayCare Health System, which operates hospitals and health care centers throughout Tampa Bay, has purchased the 15,456-square-foot building at 2501 Tyrone BoulevardNorth from JWH Properties Inc. for $10 million, according to a deed recorded on January 29th.

This is the second Barnes & Noble the non-profit health care organization has purchased in Tampa Bay. In 2024, BayCare purchased a shuttered Barnes & Noble in Carrollwood for $10.5 million with plans to convert the property into an urgent care center.

Barnes & Noble representatives were not immediately available to confirm when the St. Pete store would close, nor whether the store would close permanently or move to another location.

The bookstore has been operating at this location in west St. Pete for 33 years.

January 29, 2025

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

January 29, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

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.

January 28, 2025

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

January 28, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

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.

January 28, 2025

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

January 28, 2025/ Anthony Close

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.

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.”