Whataburger files plans for Largo location, marking return to Tampa Bay after 15 years

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Whataburger files plans for Largo location, marking return to Tampa Bay after 15 years

A popular Texas-based fast food chain is making a comeback in the Tampa Bay area.

Whataburger has filed plans to open a new restaurant at 10150 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

The 3,671-square-foot building was most recently home to Joella’s Hot Chicken, which closed in October 2024. Prior to Joella’s, the space housed a Pollo Tropical, and before that, a Burger King.

According to documents submitted to the City of Largo in early 2025, Whataburger is proposing a $1.3 million remodel of the existing structure, including minor architectural and aesthetic changes, as well as interior renovations to the kitchen, lobby, and dining room.

The new restaurant will feature a drive-thru and seat 62 patrons.

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24-unit townhome community begins vertical construction in Grand Central District

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24-unit townhome community begins vertical construction in Grand Central District

A new townhome community is set to rise on the edge of St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District and Historic Kenwood, bringing a neighborhood feel to one of the city’s most vibrant urban corridors.

Indianapolis-based developer Onyx+East has officially launched sales for Blanc, a 24-unit luxury townhome project at 3001 1st Avenue North. The phased development will span seven buildings across a one-acre site.

The property, formerly home to a gas station, a single-family home, and an apartment building, was cleared prior to Onyx+East purchasing the site for $4 million in 2024. The parcel was previously owned by Salt Palm Development who planned to build The Bismarck, an 18-unit townhome community.

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Local coffee shop Sugar Baby quietly opens inside concrete design studio in Warehouse Arts District

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Local coffee shop Sugar Baby quietly opens inside concrete design studio in Warehouse Arts District

Coffee and concrete may seem like an unlikely match, but two local businesses are making it work.

After opening to rave reviews in Seminole two years ago, local coffee shop and café Sugar Baby has quietly debuted a new location inside a concrete design studio in St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District.

Every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can stop by Form43, located at 2621 Fairfield Avenue South, to grab a drink from Sugar Baby’s new coffee bar and wander through the 2,880-square-foot space filled with modern art installations, concrete furniture, and tropical greenery in concrete planters.

The new setup is more than just a pop-up. It’s a true collaboration between two local businesses with a shared vision of blending art, design, and community.

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First look inside the 42-story Art House condo tower set to open this fall in downtown St. Pete

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First look inside the 42-story Art House condo tower set to open this fall in downtown St. Pete

Three years after breaking ground, downtown St. Pete’s skyline is about to welcome its newest addition: Art House, a 42-story luxury condominium tower set to begin move-ins this October.

Located at 235 1st Avenue South, adjacent to 200 Central, the city’s tallest office tower, Art House is being developed by Kolter Urban, the South Florida-based firm behind ONE St. Petersburg and Saltaire.

The general contractor is Coastal Construction, with design contributions from SB Architects, ID & Design International, and Kimley-Horn. Smith & Associates is serving as the exclusive broker for the condo tower.

During a hard hat tour this week, St. Pete Rising got an exclusive look inside the tower, which has been under construction since mid-2022.

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381-unit Live Local Act development with workforce housing proposed in north St. Pete

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381-unit Live Local Act development with workforce housing proposed in north St. Pete

A major new affordable housing development could soon rise in north St. Petersburg. Atlanta-based real estate developer Wood Partners is proposing a 381-unit multifamily apartment complex at 11101 Roosevelt Boulevard North.

The five-story building, named Alta Roosevelt, is being reviewed under Florida’s Live Local Act, a 2023 state law designed to incentivize the construction of affordable and workforce housing.

The law allows residential developments to override local zoning restrictions such as height, density, and land use if at least 40 percent of units are set aside for households earning up to 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and those units remain affordable for at least 30 years.

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Capybara Cafe opening next month in St. Pete will let you cuddle capybaras, wallabies, and lemurs

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Capybara Cafe opening next month in St. Pete will let you cuddle capybaras, wallabies, and lemurs

St. Pete is about to welcome a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

The Capybara Café, a wildly popular animal encounter café originally launched in St. Augustine, is opening a second location in the Sunshine City on July 11th.

Located at 4703 Park Street North, the café promises cozy coffeehouse vibes mixed with up-close moments with exotic animals, from cuddly capybaras to energetic lemurs.

Spanning 6,490 square feet, the industrial-chic café will be divided into private encounter spaces, animal lounging zones, and a relaxed café area serving coffee, muffins, cookies, and other light snacks.

But the real draw is the opportunity to get face-to-face with a rotating cast of animals from all over the globe, including wallabies, raccoons, skunks, armadillos, and more.

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New 540-space parking garage brings relief to EDGE District drivers

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New 540-space parking garage brings relief to EDGE District drivers

It’s official—parking in St. Pete’s EDGE District just got easier with the opening of a new public garage on Central Avenue.

A new 540-space parking garage has debuted at 1301 Central Avenue, directly across from Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill, as part of the long-awaited mixed-use development The Central, currently under construction in the heart of the EDGE District.

On Tuesday morning, representatives from Ellison Development and the City of St. Pete gathered to celebrate the opening, marking a major milestone as the first completed component of The Central. The garage addresses one of the district’s greatest needs: accessibility and parking.

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Lucid Coffee & Kava debuts a new spot for coffee, kava, and community in north St. Pete

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Lucid Coffee & Kava debuts a new spot for coffee, kava, and community in north St. Pete

A new café blending coffee culture with botanical brews has opened in north St. Pete’s Gateway neighborhood.

Lucid Coffee & Kava quietly debuted on Saturday at 10328 Roosevelt Boulevard North, near the intersection of Gandy Boulevard and Roosevelt Boulevard, in the Ibis Walk shopping center.

The 1,700-square-foot space that was previously home to Freshii, a health-focused restaurant and juice bar.

Lucid’s menu features a variety of beverages, including coffee, kava, kratom, herbal teas, kombucha, and ginger beer.

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Vintage clothing store Wendy’s Closet relocates to new Central Avenue spot this summer

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Vintage clothing store Wendy’s Closet relocates to new Central Avenue spot this summer

Wendy’s Closet, a beloved vintage clothing shop celebrating 30 years in business, is relocating this summer from 2107 Central Avenue to a new space just a few blocks down in St. Pete’s Grand Central District.

Owner Wendy Barrett has purchased a 3,300-square-foot building at 1912 Central Avenue, formerly home to Goodyear Rubber Products, securing her presence in the neighborhood for years to come.

“This store will have a better layout, a working AC, and it’s right across from the Imagine Museum. It’s perfect, it will be bigger and better,” Barrett told St. Pete Rising.

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Bojangles to open first Tampa Bay location in Pinellas Park

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Bojangles to open first Tampa Bay location in Pinellas Park

Bojangles, the beloved Southern fast-food chain known for its fried chicken, biscuits, and sweet tea, is making its Tampa Bay debut since it last operated in the area decades ago.

The brand plans to open a new restaurant at 7930 US Highway 19 North in Pinellas Park, taking over a 2,414-square-foot space that previously housed a Burger King. Bojangles previously had several locations in Pinellas County in the 80s.

The upcoming Bojangles will feature a single-lane drive-thru located across from Walmart Supercenter on an outparcel of a retail plaza anchored by Ashley Furniture.

Other tenants in the shopping center include Bright Now Dental & Orthodontics, Fresenius Dialysis, Interior Fusion, and a nail lounge.

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