November 21, 2025

Winn-Dixie in Seminole may be redeveloped into 208-unit luxury apartment community

November 21, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A 208-unit apartment community has been proposed for the site of an existing Winn-Dixie in Seminole.

Birmingham-based LIV Development is seeking approval to demolish the 55,316 square foot grocery store at 8740 Park Boulevard and replace it with Livano Park and Park, a Class A apartment complex with one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.

At a November 10th Seminole City Council workshop, councilmembers reviewed the proposal, which is seeking two deviations from the city’s land development code, including a taller building than permitted and a reduction in required parking.

Councilmember Chris Burke noted the city has not approved a building above the maximum 50 feet in his 13 years on the council and emphasized that LIV faces “two very large hurdles, the parking and the height.”

As currently designed, the side of the building fronting Park Boulevard would rise to 62.6 feet, while the section along Park Street would step down to 53.5 feet.

November 20, 2025

PNC Bank to open branch at 400 Central as tower nears completion in downtown St. Pete

November 20, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Downtown St. Pete’s tallest tower has landed another major retail tenant.

PNC Bank has signed a lease for a roughly 3,000-square-foot branch at the 46-story Residences at 400 Central, which is slated to open later this year.

The branch be located along Central Avenue in the 301-unit condo tower being developed by New York–based Red Apple Group, which will include 60,000 square feet of high-end ground-floor retail and restaurant space.

Founder John Catsimatidis Sr. said PNC’s arrival underscores both the project’s momentum and its ties to the site’s past.

“Red Apple has a longstanding relationship with PNC across multiple business lines and we are thrilled to welcome them as a tenant at our iconic 400 Central project,” Catsimatidis said.

November 20, 2025

Shopapalooza one of Florida’s biggest holiday markets returns to the St. Pete waterfront next weekend

November 20, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

One of St. Pete’s largest outdoor markets returns to the downtown waterfront next weekend.

More than 350 craft makers, artists, and nonprofits will fill Vinoy Park at 701 Bayshore Drive NE on November 29th and 30th for this year’s free, two-day Shopapalooza Festival, billed as one of the biggest holiday shopping events in the Southeast.

Now in its 15th year, the festival brings together a huge mix of local boutiques and makers.

Shoppers can browse clothing from Pieces of a Dream, Dark Cycle Clothing, and Ashe Couture Boutique, or discover unique gifts from Sans Market, Fox & Crow, Curated Phases, Banyan Books, and The Muddy Walrus Pottery.

Four food areas will feature 40 chefs, restaurants, and food trucks, including Slider Guys, Two Grandma’s Soul Food, Dr. BBQ, Hot Off the Press, The Dude and His Food, and Churned Ice Cream.

November 19, 2025

Central Gyro to bring authentic Greek food to Central Avenue next year

November 19, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

After seven years of serving New York–style pies and Italian comfort food on the 500 block of Central Avenue, Tony’s Pizza owner Vjollca Dervishi is preparing to launch a brand-new concept, one she says will bring an authentic taste of Greece to downtown St. Pete.

Set to open early next year at 653 Central Avenue, Central Gyro will move into the space currently occupied by DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go, which is relocating to a larger space a few doors down at 683 Central Avenue.

For Dervishi, the new restaurant is the realization of an idea she’s carried with her since opening Tony’s in 2018.

“It’s the right time,” she told St. Pete Rising, explaining that she learned about the opportunity directly from the building owner.

“It’ll be a very authentic Greek experience, unlike anything around downtown St. Pete. You can expect to find the same foods that are sold in Greece.”

November 18, 2025

Beloved downtown diner expands with new location on Pasadena Avenue

November 18, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Central Diner, the downtown St. Pete staple known for its no-frills breakfasts, oversized portions, and loyal following, has quietly expanded west.

The longtime neighborhood favorite, at 530 Central Avenue, has opened a second location at 2525 Pasadena Avenue South in the Village Plaza in South Pasadena.

The expansion is a big step for a spot that has been part of St. Pete’s food scene for almost fifty years.

Central Diner began in 1975 as Central Coffee Shoppe, opened by John and Chris Mangels.

Over the years it became a go-to eatery for downtown workers, long-time residents, and anyone craving a dependable plate of pancakes or corned beef hash.

Their daughters, Michelle, Cassie, and Nicole, took over the restaurant in 2004 and continued running it until 2018.

November 17, 2025

Revised plans advance for 13-story affordable housing tower in downtown St. Pete

November 17, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A long-awaited residential redevelopment on the west side of Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete is finally making progress, more than two years after the project was first awarded.

Pinellas County Schools’ 1.36-acre property, located at 296 Mirror Lake Drive and home to the 101-year-old Tomlinson building, is now one step closer to being redeveloped as the development team has submitted plans to the city for site plan approval.

What was once planned as a mix of affordable and market-rate apartments will now be an entirely affordable community, with priority given to Pinellas County Schools faculty and staff.

All 202 units in the updated plan will be income-restricted, with some reserved for households earning up to 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) and the rest at 110% AMI.

The Tomlinson building was originally built in 1924 as St. Petersburg Junior High School. It later became the Edwin H. Tomlinson Vocational School before transitioning into the Tomlinson Adult Learning Center in 1978.

November 14, 2025

Mayor Welch extends proposal deadline for 86-acre Historic Gas Plant redevelopment in downtown St. Pete

November 14, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Starting in the new year, the City of St. Pete will officially restart the clock for developers to submit proposals to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete, marking the third time the city has sought bids for the site since 2020.

Mayor Ken Welch had initially planned to open a 30-day submission window in mid-November, but after receiving pushback from major developers, including Kolter Urban and Red Apple Group, as well as concerns from City Council, Welch agreed to delay the start until January 4th, 2026.

Proposals will now be due February 3rd, giving developers a total of 105 days since the city’s October 21st announcement.

The latest bid solicitation was triggered when the city received an unsolicited $6.8 billion proposal from Casey Ellison of Ellison Companies, Cathie Wood of ARK Invest, and Jonathan Graham of Horus Construction.

November 14, 2025

$18.3 million approved for new storm-resilient operations building at Southwest Water Reclamation Facility

November 14, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The City of St. Pete is moving forward with more than $19 million in major infrastructure upgrades that will strengthen the city’s resilience to hurricanes and improve the reliability of core public works systems.

City Council approved the investment during its November 6th meeting, advancing two projects that target stormwater improvements and long-needed updates at the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility at 3800 54th Avenue South next to Eckerd College.

“These projects support improvements to some of our most critical public works systems and facilities that impact residents’ day-to-day lives,” said Mayor Ken Welch in a prepared statement.

The largest portion of the investment is an $18.3 million Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposal for Ajax Building Company.

November 13, 2025

Former Hippie Shack and Sea Hags building set to be demolished and redeveloped on St. Pete Beach

November 13, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The restaurant building at Blind Pass Marina on St. Pete Beach is set to be demolished.

The structure, most recently home to the short-lived Hippie Shack and Sea Hags before that, suffered significant storm damage during last year’s hurricanes and will be torn down to make way for a new outdoor dining destination.

Property owners Ping Pong Partners, a company formed by developer Steve Gianfilippo, have submitted a Conditional Use Permit to the City of St. Pete Beach outlining plans for a complete transformation of the site at 9555 Blind Pass Road.

Gianfilippo is known locally for creating two popular co-working and event spaces: Station House in downtown St. Petersburg and Hyde House Public Studio in Tampa’s Hyde Park Village.

November 12, 2025

City revives $148 million plan to modernize downtown St. Pete marina

November 12, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The City of St. Pete is once again seeking a contractor to repair and redevelop the aging St. Petersburg Municipal Marina along the downtown waterfront.

Through a new Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the city is soliciting experienced design-build firms to oversee a modernization of the 640-slip facility.

The RFQ comes just months after the city terminated negotiations with Safe Harbor Marinas, which had been selected in late 2023 to lead the project.

The new plan represents a major shift in approach with the city will now retaining full ownership and control of the marina, rather than leasing the marina to a private operator.

The City has established a $148 million construction budget for planning and delivering the project.

According to the RFQ, the selected group will manage the design and construction of a 100% floating dock system, as well as a new ship store, new bathhouses, administrative offices, dock houses, maintenance facilities, fueling facilities, seawalls, utilities, and a bridge connecting Demens Landing.