170-unit Convivial St. Petersburg hits sales milestone as demand surges for waterfront senior living

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170-unit Convivial St. Petersburg hits sales milestone as demand surges for waterfront senior living

Convivial St. Petersburg, a new continuing care retirement community (CCRC) rising along the waterfront in the Skyway Marina District, has reached a major sales milestone.

The $172.5 million project has now pre-sold nearly 40% of its planned residences, following a record-setting pace in June.

The nine-story development, located at 4595 34th Street South along Boca Ciega Bay, is being led by Convivial Life, a Florida-based not-for-profit that owns and operates senior living communities.

“This pace confirms what we’ve believed all along—there’s a powerful appetite for a boutique-style retirement community that blends purpose, connection, and vibrancy,” said Jessica Kraft, Chief Marketing Officer for Convivial Life.

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Dank Burrito to open first Pinellas location at former Boston Market in Largo

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Dank Burrito to open first Pinellas location at former Boston Market in Largo

A vacant Boston Market in Largo is getting a flavorful new lease on life.

Dank Burrito, a fast-casual restaurant known for its 90s hip-hop aesthetic and menu of tacos, burritos, and bowls, is set to open in a 3,100-square-foot space at 4001 East Bay Drive, at the corner of East Bay and Belcher Road.

Expected to open later this year, Dank Burrito is making its Pinellas County debut with graffiti-wrapped walls, colorful signage, and a menu that pushes the boundaries of traditional burrito joints.

Guests can expect menu items such as a Jerk Chicken Burrito with pineapple-mango salsa and a Pork Belly Bowl topped with kimchi or banh mi-style vegetables, sweet Thai chili sauce, cilantro, and lime.

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City presents new vision and redevelopment concepts for Port of St. Petersburg

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City presents new vision and redevelopment concepts for Port of St. Petersburg

For the first time in over two decades, the City of St. Petersburg is updating its master plan for the Port of St. Petersburg — a city-owned, 4.4-acre waterfront site just south of downtown.

Situated within the Innovation District and surrounded by key institutions like the University of South Florida to the west, Albert Whitted Airport to the north, and the U.S. Coast Guard to the east, the Port is seen as a uniquely positioned but underutilized asset.

In 1999, St. Pete City Council unanimously approved a $14.8 million plan to turn the site into a cruise ship port and an educational attraction called “Port Discovery.” But the project was ultimately scrapped after engineers later estimated the cost could exceed $72 million.

Now, the city is once again considering redevelopment options.

On June 25th, city officials and consultants from Moffatt & Nichol hosted a public meeting at The Coliseum to present three preliminary development scenarios and gather input from residents, business owners, and other stakeholders.

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St. Pete’s office market is shrinking — here’s why that matters

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St. Pete’s office market is shrinking — here’s why that matters

As residential and mixed-use towers continue to reshape downtown St. Petersburg, a quieter yet equally significant transformation is underway: a sharp contraction in the city’s office market.

While St. Pete is performing better than the national average on paper, the amount of available office space is shrinking, a trend that could complicate efforts to attract new businesses and corporate relocations.

Nationally, office space is disappearing at a record pace. According to a recent CBRE report, the United States will see a net loss of approximately 10.6 million square feet of office space by the end of 2025, representing the first year of true nationwide office space contraction in over a generation.

While many cities are grappling with declining demand, St. Petersburg faces a unique dilemma: its office market isn’t struggling due to oversupply. It’s struggling because viable office space is being demolished or repurposed in favor of housing and retail development.

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Steakhouse and martini bar The Blu Halo opens in north St. Pete

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Steakhouse and martini bar The Blu Halo opens in north St. Pete

A stylish new steakhouse has opened in North St. Pete.

The Blu Halo officially debuted on Monday June 30th at 221 Main Street North on the ground floor of Park & Main, a new 17-story luxury apartment tower at the growing Echelon City Center development in the Carillon Office Park.

Originally founded in Tallahassee, The Blu Halo is a steakhouse and martini bar known for its modern take on classic American fare.

The team behind The Blu Halo chose St. Pete for its second location due to the city’s growing reputation as a dining destination. In April, the Michelin Guide recognized three restaurants in St. Pete.

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West Coast cult-favorite Dutch Bros Coffee files plans for first Pinellas County location

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West Coast cult-favorite Dutch Bros Coffee files plans for first Pinellas County location

West Coast cult-favorite coffee chain Dutch Bros Coffee is planning to open its first Pinellas County location in Largo.

The new location will be built from the ground up at 2250 East Bay Drive, just west of Starkey Road.

The 967-square-foot building will include a double drive-thru and a walk-up window, designed for speed and convenience. There will be no indoor seating or customer access to the interior.

Founded in Oregon in 1992, Dutch Bros has grown to over 900 locations across the U.S.

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10-unit townhome community breaks ground in St. Pete's Central Oak Park neighborhood

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10-unit townhome community breaks ground in St. Pete's Central Oak Park neighborhood

A new 10-unit townhome development is coming to St. Pete’s Central Oak Park neighborhood, located just west of the Grand Central District.

Seattle-based development firm Heron Properties has broken ground on the project, called The Junction Townhomes, located at 3601 1st Avenue North. This marks the company’s first development outside of Seattle.

The community will include four buildings situated around a landscaped central courtyard.

Heron Properties purchased the 0.42-acre property in 2022 for $770,000.

“We’ve started site work and expect to begin vertical construction in August,” said Grace Johnson, Principal at Heron Properties, in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

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Churned Ice Cream opens new St. Pete shop with grab-and-go treats

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Churned Ice Cream opens new St. Pete shop with grab-and-go treats

Churned Ice Cream, the small-batch ice cream company known for serving handcrafted frozen treats out of a retro 1970s Volkswagen van, now has a permanent home in St. Pete.

The local favorite has quietly opened a production facility and grab-and-go storefront at 5504 Haines Road North in a space previously occupied by The Shop & Coffee House.

The 1,200-square-foot location houses Churned’s main production operations and a freezer-stocked retail section where customers can pick up pre-packaged goodies Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“This isn't your traditional ice cream shop where you can order at the counter and dine in,” said managing partner Steve Tishman in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “But we do plan to add counter service with over 20 flavors later this year.”

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Duckweed Urban Grocery opens first St. Pete location in the Grand Central District

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Duckweed Urban Grocery opens first St. Pete location in the Grand Central District

Downtown St. Pete has a new neighborhood grocery store offering everyday essentials and conveniences, with a focus on locally sourced products and organic options.

Duckweed Urban Grocery quietly opened its first St. Pete location Friday morning on the ground floor of the Tru by Hilton hotel at 1670 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

The Tampa-based grocery store has become known for its curated selection of products that cater to a variety of diets—including vegan and keto. 

“The Duckweed team has spent the last several months curating the St. Pete space to ensure it's a safe and inviting place to shop for everyday essentials as well as fun and unique products that aren't typically carried in chain retailers,” the Duckweed team said.

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Historically St. Pete: The 96-year-old Saint Mary’s Church and its amusing connection to a bathroom at the St. Pete Pier

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Historically St. Pete: The 96-year-old Saint Mary’s Church and its amusing connection to a bathroom at the St. Pete Pier

At St. Pete Rising, we are constantly providing comprehensive coverage on everything new and coming soon to the Sunshine City, but we think it’s also important to take a look back at our city's rich history.

Historically St. Pete, a monthly column on St. Pete Rising written by Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History Rui Farias, covers everything from the legend of underground mobster tunnels to the buildings and people that created the Sunshine City.

Follow us each month as we explore how these projects shaped St. Pete into the city we know and love today.

This month we explore the history of the 96-year-old Saint Mary Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and its amusing connection to a downtown bathroom nicknamed Little St. Mary’s.

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