Local artist to debut new waterfront-inspired sculpture at 42-story Art House condo tower

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Local artist to debut new waterfront-inspired sculpture at 42-story Art House condo tower

A modern sculpture inspired by St. Pete's waterfront will become a focal point for residents and guests entering the 42-story Art House condominium tower in downtown St. Pete.

South Florida-based developer Kolter Urban, which has developed two other condo projects in downtown St. Pete, has commissioned well-known St. Pete artist and sculptor Cecilia Lueza to create a stunning art piece for the new 244-unit luxury condo tower at 235 1st Avenue South.

“Similar to Art House, ALLURE [the sculpture] was heavily influenced by the beautiful waterfront community we enjoy here in St. Petersburg. My sculptures are about honoring and enriching nature, blending colors, shapes, and the rhythm of the earth to transform the space around us while creating a place where we feel connected,” Lueza said in a prepared statement.

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Pete's Bagels team to open new cafe and coffee shop Seymour's in downtown St. Pete

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Pete's Bagels team to open new cafe and coffee shop Seymour's in downtown St. Pete

The team behind the popular Pete's Bagels is opening a new spot for breakfast, lunch, and coffee in downtown St. Pete.

Seymour's will debut this February at 407 Central Avenue inside the historic Snell Arcade. The space was previously home to Samurai Cat Japanese Cafe and Bakery.

“We are excited to bring the Pete's vibe to downtown St. Pete. We will focus on having a full cafe and bakery with an old vintage St. Pete vibe in the Snell Arcade,” Owner Steven Peterman said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

“This will be more of a cafe experience - it won’t be a bagel shop like Pete’s.”

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

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

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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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