Beloved St. Pete dive bar Dead Bob’s to debut larger west side location in coming weeks

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Beloved St. Pete dive bar Dead Bob’s to debut larger west side location in coming weeks

Dead Bob’s, the beloved neighborhood dive bar and restaurant known for its affordable, yet delicious pub fare, is preparing to open the doors to its new location in west St. Pete.

After more than a decade at 6716 Central Avenue, the popular hangout is putting the finishing touches on its new home at 6475 Central Avenue, just a half-mile away in the former Kay’s Family Restaurant building.

The grand opening is expected by the end of October or early November.

“We’re really excited and proud of how this place turned out,” said Ben Scherlis, owner of Dead Bob’s, in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “It’s better than I thought it would be. We’ve doubled our seating, tripled our kitchen size, and finally have our own parking lot.”

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St. Pete prepares to sell former Science Center with support from City Council and community

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St. Pete prepares to sell former Science Center with support from City Council and community

The once-cherished Science Center in west St. Pete, attracting more than 20,000 students each year from 1959 through 2014, is on the verge of a major comeback.

At the end of September, St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously to move forward with selling the Science Center property at 7701 22nd Avenue North to St. Pete for STEAM, a local team led by The St. Petersburg Group (SPG).

The group made an unsolicited offer to buy the property in 2023 and now plans to acquire the four-acre site for $1.6 million, transforming it into a modern hub for science, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Mayor Ken Welch, who had recently reconsidered the sale in favor of using the site for an expansion of the city’s wastewater facilities, now supports the sale again and has directed his staff to identify alternative locations for expanding the Northwest Water Reclamation Plant.

“I appreciate that the Council expressed willingness to support higher-cost options, including the potential relocation of the brush site, in order to advance the Science Center redevelopment,” Welch wrote in a letter to City Council.

“I believed that the project could have gone forward on another non-city parcel, while still utilizing the federal and state support promised over the years,” Welch continued.

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Seaside Villas in Gulfport to be redeveloped after Hurricane Helene destruction

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Seaside Villas in Gulfport to be redeveloped after Hurricane Helene destruction

A decades-old waterfront apartment community in Gulfport is preparing for a major comeback.

Seaside Villas, a 121-unit complex located at 3205 58th Street South, was destroyed last year when Hurricane Helene tore through Tampa Bay.

Now, the 3.74-acre property, located on the west end of Shore Boulevard South next to the Gulfport Recreation Center, is ready for a fresh start.

Built in 1964, Seaside Villas originally consisted of three three-story buildings just a few feet above sea level.

Last year, when Helene swept through the Gulf and into Tampa Bay, the storm’s surge overwhelmed the property, leaving it beyond repair.

“The flood damage from Hurricane Helene was very extensive and took out the electrical system in all three buildings, so we had to move everybody out,” said Eric Schifferli, CEO of Seaside Villas Florida LLC, which purchased the property in 2018 for $20 million.

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New Rays owners introduced, pledge to build new stadium in Tampa Bay

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New Rays owners introduced, pledge to build new stadium in Tampa Bay

The new ownership group of the Tampa Bay Rays intends to keep the team playing in St. Petersburg, at least for now, while exploring potential sites around Tampa Bay for a permanent stadium.

On Tuesday morning at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the team’s new leadership, Managing Partner and Co-Chair Patrick Zalupski, Co-Chair Bill Cosgrove, and Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby, outlined their long-term vision to a room filled with reporters, former team executives, and public officials from both sides of the bay.

“It’s no secret that we need a new, forever home to secure the Rays’ long-term future in Tampa Bay, and delivering upon that objective will be our first priority,” said Zalupski, CEO of Jacksonville-based Dream Finders Homes Inc. “Our goal is to have a new world-class ballpark ready for opening day 2029.”

Under their current lease agreement, the Rays are required to play at Tropicana Field for three more seasons.

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City moves forward with affordable housing and retail development on 22nd Street South

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City moves forward with affordable housing and retail development on 22nd Street South

Mayor Ken Welch has selected Green Mills Group, a South Florida-based affordable housing developer, to redevelop a historically significant city-owned property at 951 22nd Street South.

The selection follows a Request for Proposals (RFP) process that launched in August 2024, which drew three submissions from Green Mills Group, Tall Cotton, and Alexander Goshen/Goode Van Slyke Architecture.

Under Green Mills’ proposal, the vacant 0.68-acre site would be transformed into a $20 million mixed-use development, called Heritage Grove, featuring 54 affordable apartments and 2,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

City Council is expected to vote on a negotiated ground lease and development agreement next Thursday, October 16th.

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Marina Pointe launches sales for new 17-story condo tower in South Tampa

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Marina Pointe launches sales for new 17-story condo tower in South Tampa

Marina Pointe, the newest luxury waterfront condominium community in Tampa’s Westshore Marina District, is moving ahead with its second tower as pre-sales officially begin.

The new 17-story building, named Luna, will bring 151 residences to the private peninsula off Gandy and Westshore Boulevards.

Following the sellout of Marina Pointe’s first tower, which was completed in 2024 with 118 condominiums and seven Harbour Homes townhouses, sales are expected to move quickly.

Residences in Luna are planned to range from 1,193 to 3,400 square feet, with one- to four-bedroom layouts.

Prices start at $1 million and exceed $4 million for larger units.

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Massive $6.8 billion redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site proposed by group of local leaders

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Massive $6.8 billion redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site proposed by group of local leaders

A trio of well-known business leaders have submitted a proposal to purchase and redevelop 95.5 acres of downtown St. Petersburg, including the Historic Gas Plant District.

Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Companies;Cathie Wood, the founder of global investment firm ARK Invest; and Jonathan Graham, President of Horus Construction are behind the effort. Baker Barrios would serve as the master planner architect.

The group submitted a 98-page unsolicited proposal to the City of St. Petersburg this morning outlining a $6.8 billion vision for a new mixed-use district anchored by innovation, housing, cultural institutions, and world-class event venues.

The project would be built in four phases over the next 17 years and will include flexibility to accommodate the Tampa Bay Rays should the team remain beyond 2028.

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Iconic Tampa Bay restaurant Datz has closed in downtown St. Pete

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Iconic Tampa Bay restaurant Datz has closed in downtown St. Pete

Datz in downtown St. Pete has permanently closed, marking the end of what was once one of Tampa Bay’s most popular restaurants.

Earlier yesterday morning, a message was taped to the restaurant’s door:

“An ending to an era! It’s been a great and memorable journey throughout the years. Unfortunately, we have finished our final chapter in our Datz story.”

The message continued, “It’s been a privilege and our pleasure throughout the years! Be well and until we meet again. Stay Datzy!”

The note did not provide a reason for the closure, and a call to the owners, Suzanne and Roger Perry, was not returned.

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15-story Viv apartments to begin move-ins next month in the EDGE District

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15-story Viv apartments to begin move-ins next month in the EDGE District

Rising 150 feet, the highly anticipated 15-story Viv apartment community is now ready to welcome residents.

Announced in 2021 by developer Belpointe OZ, the complex is located on a 1.6-acre site at 1000 1st Avenue North in St. Pete’s EDGE District. The development features two 15-story towers with 269 market-rate apartments and a four-story parking garage offering 355 spaces.

Local general contractor JE Dunn Construction commenced construction in June 2023 and completed vertical construction in May 2024.

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Local boating company Hubbard's Marina selected as new operator of Cross Bay Ferry

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Local boating company Hubbard's Marina selected as new operator of Cross Bay Ferry

A longtime local boating business may bring back the popular ferry service connecting downtown St. Petersburg and downtown Tampa, with more frequent trips and year-round service.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has recommended Hubbard’s Marina, a nearly century-old Madeira Beach-based business, to relaunch and manage the Cross Bay Ferry, which first launched in 2016. If approved, service could resume as early as 2026, ahead of the peak spring break season.

Hubbard’s Marina, which would operate the service as the Tampa Bay Ferry, was one of four respondents to PSTA’s Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on August 5th.

Founded in 1928 by Captain Wilson Hubbard as a bait-and-tackle shop, Hubbard’s Marina has grown into a major fishing and boating business. The family-owned company moved to John’s Pass on Maderia Beach in 1976, where it now offers deep-sea fishing, sightseeing tours, and operates a maintenance and manufacturing facility in Gulfport.

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