Noble Tavern, a modern cocktail bar and restaurant from the owners of Noble Crust, opens on Central Avenue

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Noble Tavern, a modern cocktail bar and restaurant from the owners of Noble Crust, opens on Central Avenue

The long-awaited Noble Tavern, a modern cocktail bar and restaurant, has opened on the ground floor of the Tru by Hilton hotel at 1650 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District of St. Pete.

Spanning 3,800 square feet, the interior features brick walls, leather seating, and local artwork, creating a blend of classic tavern style and contemporary design.

 The restaurant includes a marble-topped central bar and seating designed for both dining and casual drinks.

First announced in 2022, Noble Tavern is the latest concept from the team behind Noble Crust in north St. Pete and Fat Beet Farm Kitchen & Bakery in Tampa.

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Battered Twin City mobile home park near Derby Lane may be redeveloped into apartments

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Battered Twin City mobile home park near Derby Lane may be redeveloped into apartments

A flood-prone mobile home park next to Derby Lane that was devastated by last year’s hurricanes could soon be redeveloped into a new apartment community.

Illinois-based Lakeshore Management, the property owner, is seeking a land use map amendment and rezoning for the 8.94-acre Twin City Mobile Home Park at 10636 Gandy Boulevard North to permit multifamily residential development.

Located near the Gandy Bridge and sitting at zero elevation within the Coastal High Hazard Area, many of the hurricane-damaged homes were deemed uninhabitable following the storms. The Pinellas County Housing Authority and other agencies have since helped residents relocate.

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Mediterranean cafe and wine bar Ruya opens in Grand Central District

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Mediterranean cafe and wine bar Ruya opens in Grand Central District

A new coffee and wine lounge in the Grand Central District offers locals a taste of Mediterranean flavors and Moroccan-inspired hospitality.

Ruya, from the Arabic word ru’yah, meaning “vision” or “dream,” opened on Saturday, October 11th, at 2200 1st Avenue South, serving coffee, aromatic mint teas, sangria, beer, wine, and pastries in a cozy, art-filled setting.

The 1,650-square-foot space was formerly home to If I Brewed the World, a microbrewery that closed earlier this year.

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$59 million Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse set to open in December in downtown St. Pete

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$59 million Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse set to open in December in downtown St. Pete

A major milestone for Florida’s judicial system is nearing completion as the new $59 million Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse prepares to open its doors in downtown St. Petersburg in December.

Located at 525 Mirror Lake Drive North, the three-story, 59,516-square-foot facility sits just one block from City Hall, near the Pinellas County Clerk of Court and other key government buildings.

The courthouse will serve the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas and Pasco counties), the 12th Circuit (Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties), and the 13th Circuit (Hillsborough County).

It is named the Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse, honoring the late State Attorney for Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit.

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$121 million construction loan secured for 39-acre waterfront apartment project off Gandy Boulevard

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$121 million construction loan secured for 39-acre waterfront apartment project off Gandy Boulevard

Miami-based Key International has secured a $121 million construction loan for Amara Bay Residences & Marina, a 39-acre waterfront mixed-use community rising at 12000 Gandy Boulevard in north St. Pete.

Led by ABANCA USA, a financial group headquartered in Spain, the loan will fund the ongoing construction of the project, which will include 415 luxury apartments, an 8,000-square-foot restaurant, a 150-slip marina, and a host of resort-style amenities.

“Securing this construction financing marks a significant milestone for the transformative development of Amara Bay,” said Michael Vassilaros, Chief Investment Officer at Key International. “Our vision is to create one of the most sought-after multifamily communities in the country, furthering our legacy of developing distinctive destinations around the world.”

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86 Wine Bar brings natural wines and vinyl vibes to St. Pete

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86 Wine Bar brings natural wines and vinyl vibes to St. Pete

Get ready to sip wine and spin records at 86 Wine Bar, a new intimate wine bar and lounge that has quietly opened at 2930 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North Unit #B.

The cozy, dimly lit 35-seat space blends a passion for natural wines, Mediterranean-style small plates, and eclectic vinyl in a minimalist setting that feels equal parts warm and worldly.

Located near newcomers The Violet Stone and Wildflower Ice Cream, and longtime MLK staples like Pineapple Espresso and Golden Isles Brewing Co., the bar takes over the former Doakes N Doodle Café, a cat-themed coffee shop that once occupied the spot.

Behind the concept are husband-and-wife duo Kendra Hardesty and Shane Richard Schuch, who live nearby in the Allendale neighborhood.

Hardesty, a seasoned chef most recently at Cafe Clementine, will lead the kitchen, while Schuch, whose career spans years in hospitality, handles the front of house.

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The Oyster Bar returns to St. Pete next week with a new home in the Grand Central District

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The Oyster Bar returns to St. Pete next week with a new home in the Grand Central District

After a two-year hiatus, a well-known downtown St. Pete seafood restaurant is making its return.

The Oyster Bar, a local favorite at 249 Central Avenue from 1999 until its 2023 closure, will make its return next Tuesday, October 14th, at 2245 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said owner Josh Cameron, whose Craft Hospitality Group also runs The Crafty Squirrel and Where’s Jubes. “We’re so excited to be back.”

Cameron took over The Oyster Bar in 2013 and turned it into one of the most popular restaurants on the Jannus Block in downtown St. Pete. The restaurant became known for its oyster happy hours, bottomless brunches, and affordable take on fine dining cuisine.

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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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