The Book Lounge to bring blind date books and board games to the 600 block this summer

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The Book Lounge to bring blind date books and board games to the 600 block this summer

In an era dominated by screens and digital content, the surprising resurgence of brick-and-mortar bookstores is resonating with readers everywhere.

Big names like Barnes & Noble opened over 60 new locations in 2024 alone, but it’s the smaller, independent shops that are telling the most compelling story. Across the country, new bookstores are opening with unique identities—many centered around genre, community, and cause.

Some indie shops focus on specific genres like horror, mystery, or the ever-popular romance, while others take a stand on social issues like diversity or resisting book bans.

Now, St. Pete is getting its own new chapter in the indie bookstore movement: The Book Lounge, opening June 15th at 631 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete.

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Inside The Nolen, a 23-story luxury condo tower, as it nears completion in downtown St. Pete

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Inside The Nolen, a 23-story luxury condo tower, as it nears completion in downtown St. Pete

Soaring 23 stories above downtown St. Pete, The Nolen is putting the final polish on its exclusive collection of 31 high-end condominiums.

The development team is preparing to welcome its first wave of residents by the end of May.

The Nolen, located at 126 4th Avenue Northeast, is being developed by Tampa-based DDA Development—led by Bowen Arnold and John Schilling—and St. Pete-based Backstreets Capital, led by Will Conroy.

“We’re working through our punch list with the crew, architects, and engineers. Once that’s complete, we’ll issue buyers a 10-day closing notice and conduct walk-throughs with them. We expect to close on about three units per day,” said Bowen Arnold, principal at DDA Development, in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

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Exclusive: Foot Locker signs 110,000-square-foot lease for global headquarters in north St. Pete

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Exclusive: Foot Locker signs 110,000-square-foot lease for global headquarters in north St. Pete

Global athletic retailer Foot Locker has secured space for its new worldwide headquarters in St. Petersburg, a move that is expected to create 150 high-paying jobs.

The New York-based company has signed a lease for 110,000 square feet at 570 Carillon Parkway in the Carillon Business Park, multiple sources confirmed to St. Pete Rising.

The company will be located on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th floor, occupying space previously leased to Protect My Car and Tata Consulting Services.

According to previous documents, the company plans to lease the office space for 11 to 13 years.

Other tenants in the 250,000-square-foot building include Zelis Payments, Condominium Associates, D&A Services, LLC, American Coastal Insurance, and Monopoly Group Real Estate.

Built in 1998, the Class A office building at 570 Carillon was acquired by The Feil Organization in 2019 for $36.8 million. The building features an on-site café, fitness center, and FedEx drop box, and has recently undergone extensive renovations to its lobby and common areas.

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St. Pete Beach wine bar Sip finds new home in downtown St. Pete

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St. Pete Beach wine bar Sip finds new home in downtown St. Pete

The coastal-casual wine bar and shop, Sip, is leaving St. Pete Beach and bringing its curated wine selection and events to downtown St. Pete.

Currently operating until the end of March at 6710 Gulf Boulevard, Sip will relocate to a 700-square-foot space on the ground floor of the 5th Ave Loft Apartments at 442 2nd Street North in downtown St. Pete.

The space was previously home to Must Wine Loft, a European-style wine and cheese destination that closed late last year.

“It’s time to leave the beach,” Sip owner Christiane Hall told St. Pete Rising.

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Prepared meal company Ideal Nutrition expanding to downtown St. Pete

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Prepared meal company Ideal Nutrition expanding to downtown St. Pete

Ideal Nutrition, a South Florida-based provider of fresh, pre-prepared meals, is set to open a new retail location in downtown St. Pete.

The 1,770-square-foot store is currently under construction and expected to open by the end of the year at 360 2nd Avenue South, on the ground floor of the 23-story, 220-unit Evo apartment building.

The expansion marks the company's entry into the Tampa Bay market, offering a selection of ready-to-eat meals designed to accommodate various dietary preferences.

The St. Pete location will offer over 40 meals, ranging from traditional plates to paleo, keto, vegetarian, vegan, and others priced at $8.49.

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Century-old Playhouse Theatre to be demolished for redevelopment in the Grand Central District

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Century-old Playhouse Theatre to be demolished for redevelopment in the Grand Central District

Boarded-up windows and crumbling stucco line the exterior of the former Playhouse Theatre—a once-thriving venue for the latest Hollywood movies and traveling performers.

The long-vacant, 100-year-old theater at 1850 Central Avenue may soon be demolished to make way for a new development featuring office space and retail.

The site is located next to an Interstate 275 overpass and adjacent to the Trails Crossing development, a proposed linear park featuring public art and event spaces that is being studied for the area under I-275.

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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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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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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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Forbici Modern Italian to take over Sea Salt space at Sundial in downtown St. Pete

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Forbici Modern Italian to take over Sea Salt space at Sundial in downtown St. Pete

Forbici Modern Italian, one of Tampa’s most celebrated Italian restaurants, is set to open a new location in downtown St. Pete’s Sundial shopping complex.

Initially, Forbici was expected to occupy the ground-floor space previously home to Locale Market. However, the restaurant will now take over the 12,000-square-foot second-floor space formerly occupied by Sea Salt, which closed on December 31st, at 183 2nd Avenue North.

An official opening date has not yet been announced. Before welcoming guests, Forbici will renovate the space, though specific improvements are unknown.

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