Seymour’s is now open, serving up scratch-made NY-style eats in downtown St. Pete

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Seymour’s is now open, serving up scratch-made NY-style eats in downtown St. Pete

The team behind Pete’s Bagels has opened their latest venture—a warm and welcoming Jewish-inspired cafe and coffee shop in downtown St. Pete.

Seymour’s quietly debuted last week at 407 Central Avenue, inside the historic 99-year-old Snell Arcade and directly across from the Residences at 400 Central, which will be the largest residential tower on Florida’s Gulf Coast once complete. The space was previously home to Samurai Cat Japanese Café and Bakery, and before that Beans and Barlour.

Seymour’s—named in honor of owner Steven Peterman’s grandfather—offers a menu of New York deli-style cuisine for breakfast and lunch and coffee courtesy of local roaster Look Alive Coffee.

“My grandfather was a typical guy from New Jersey with an upbeat attitude,” Peterman said in a recent interview with St. Pete Rising. “He was born in 1928 in Newark, NJ. He liked his bagels scooped, ate his pickles on the side, and loved a good rye bread sandwich.”

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Glamper, a camping-themed bar, opens this week in downtown St. Pete

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Glamper, a camping-themed bar, opens this week in downtown St. Pete

Burgers sizzling on the grill, beers chilling in coolers, and friends gathered to watch the big game—this is the endless summer vibe that the new Glamper bar and restaurant wants to bring to downtown St. Pete.

Inspired by backyard cookouts, Fourth of July celebrations, and other summertime traditions, Glamper is set to open this Thursday, March 6th, at 217 Central Avenue, starting at 9 p.m.

The space was formerly home to Caddy’s on Central, which closed in 2020 after COVID-19 shuttered restaurants and bars across Florida. It was later slated to become Nauti Duchess, a nautical-themed bar and seafood restaurant, but those plans never materialized.

The new establishment is being brought to St. Pete by Ohio-based Forward Hospitality Group—known for ’70s-themed club Good Night John Boy, country bar Welcome to the Farm, and retro martini bar My Rich Uncle.

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Irish party bar Dublin Drop debuts in downtown St. Pete

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Irish party bar Dublin Drop debuts in downtown St. Pete

Get ready to raise a pint of Guinness, St. Pete—there’s a new Irish party bar in town.

Dublin Drop opens today at 6 p.m. at 129 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Pete.

The new bar is from Michael Jennings of The Drink St. Pete Group, the team behind other popular downtown bars, such as One Night Stand, Tequila Daisy, Whiskey Exchange, and Pour Judgement.

Although the 3,000-square-foot bar will feature Irish beers and whiskies, Jennings doesn’t consider it a traditional Irish pub.

“It’s a party bar,” said Jennings. “We won’t serve Irish food or play Irish music. Think more along the lines of Irish Kevin’s in Key West.”

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Local furniture store Gibson’s on Central opens in the Grand Central District

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Local furniture store Gibson’s on Central opens in the Grand Central District

St. Pete residents hunting for a new couch or dining set and resorting to shopping at giant retailers outside of the area now have a new local option.

With a keen eye for decor, flipping rooms into modern-style spaces with a blend of traditional architecture, local interior designer Tara Gibson has opened her own storefront selling furniture and home accessories in the Grand Central District.

Imported chairs and sofas, Himalayan blankets, rugs, and light fixtures fill the space at 2646 Central Avenue named Gibson's on Central.

The shop, currently open with a planned grand opening on March 8th, was formerly occupied by Salty Roots Salon and Boutique and is directly next to Bandit Coffee.

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Amorino and its flower-shaped gelato is coming to the EDGE District

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Amorino and its flower-shaped gelato is coming to the EDGE District

The first Florida brick-and-mortar location of French chain Amorino Gelato is headed for downtown St. Pete.

Opening at 1246 Central Avenue in the EDGE District, Amorino serves its gelato via spatula, famously shaped into a flower — with the option to add a macaron to the center.

The 1,800-square-foot shop will front 1st Avenue South, directly across from Tropicana Field, inside a 110-year-old building that will also house Bosphorus Turkish Cuisine.

The newly renovated building is part of the EDGE Collective, a mixed use development that will also include a 20-story tower with 360 apartments and 24,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

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Vintage Marche to expand with new cafe, more inventory in Skyway Marina District

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Vintage Marche to expand with new cafe, more inventory in Skyway Marina District

Customers hunting for their next prized vintage treasure at St. Pete’s Vintage Marche will soon be able to enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing the expansive warehouse.

Tampa Bay’s largest monthly vintage market, which opens on the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of every month, will be taking over the neighboring wig shop at 2906 34th Street South in the Skyway Marina District.

Permits have been approved, and construction is already underway to renovate the 3,000-square-foot space that will house the new café.

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Inside the 2025 Downtown Development Guide: Grappling with growth amid market headwinds

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Inside the 2025 Downtown Development Guide: Grappling with growth amid market headwinds

New zoning changes, the sweeping rise of commercial and residential development, and the promise of revitalizing neighborhoods are molding the ever-evolving identity of the Sunshine City.

This Tuesday, the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership released its 2025 Downtown St. Pete Development Guide, an annual resource tool providing a snapshot of the latest economic and commercial activity to encourage public and private stakeholders to spur healthy growth in the area.

"The data, trends, and projects on the horizon really comprise the blueprint for how we continue to grow with purpose, intention, and resilience," Mayor Ken Welch said during the Partnership's Development Summit hosted at the new EDGE Collective office building next to the Moxy Hotel.

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Here’s every concept coming to the new five-story Central Park Food Hall in downtown St. Pete

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Here’s every concept coming to the new five-story Central Park Food Hall in downtown St. Pete

Whether you're craving a Wagyu steak, lobster pasta, or a refreshing cocktail, you’ll find it all at the upcoming five-story Central Park Food Hall in downtown St. Pete.

Hi Hospitality Group recently unveiled all 13 concepts coming to the expansive food hall, which broke ground in November 2021 at 551 Central Avenue—the former site of the longtime downtown breakfast staple, Dome Grill.

Hi Hospitality Group operates a collection of restaurants along Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Speaks Clam Bar, an American-Italian, speakeasy-inspired restaurant with locations in Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota; Kojo, a pan-Asian restaurant and bar in Sarasota; and Palm Avenue Deli, a New York-style delicatessen in Sarasota.

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Neighborhood Wine Shop to bring artisanal, small-batch wine to the Grand Central District

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Neighborhood Wine Shop to bring artisanal, small-batch wine to the Grand Central District

A new wine shop coming soon to St. Pete’s Grand Central District will offer a curated selection of unique, small-batch artisanal wines not available in big-box stores.

Simply named Neighborhood Wine Shop, the storefront is set to open this April in a 500-square-foot space at 2875 Central Avenue on the ground floor of the Driftwood on Central townhome community.

“St. Pete has plenty of bars but very few retail options for wine. We want to be the go-to shop for residents—whether they’re stopping by on their way home from work or picking up a bottle for a special occasion,” said owner Bryce Kennedy in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We’re bringing that hospitality-style service to retail to create a wonderful experience.”

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Habitat for Humanity moves forward on two affordable housing projects in Pinellas County

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Habitat for Humanity moves forward on two affordable housing projects in Pinellas County

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners has approved $3 million in funding to support two significant affordable housing projects by Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside.

These developments—located in Clearwater and Lealman—will provide more than 80 new homes for families in need, advancing the county's commitment to affordable housing solutions.

In Lealman, a 5.94-acre parcel of underused land will be developed into a vibrant residential community. Habitat has secured approval to acquire the land from the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County (HFA). The plans include 57 new affordable housing units, featuring a mix of 31 single-family homes and 26 townhomes. The county will contribute $2.29 million in funding, supporting the $10.13 million project.

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