Treehouse BBQ to open first brick-and-mortar restaurant next month in north St. Pete

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Treehouse BBQ to open first brick-and-mortar restaurant next month in north St. Pete

For a city this food-obsessed, St. Pete has always had a shortage of great barbecue. But that may be about to change.

After building a strong following as a mobile catering company, Treehouse BBQ will open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant next month at 229 62nd Avenue North in the Edgemoor neighborhood of north St. Pete.

The 1,200-square-foot space was previously home to Pasghetti, Tasty Thai, and Green Light Sushi Bar.

A regular vendor at the weekly Kenwood Sunday Market at St. Pete High, Treehouse BBQ will operate mainly as a carry-out spot, with limited indoor seating for approximately 20 guests.

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Blizzard Bazaar debuts this Friday with 60 local vendors, snowy vibes, and a viral matcha luge

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Blizzard Bazaar debuts this Friday with 60 local vendors, snowy vibes, and a viral matcha luge

If you’ve ever wished St. Pete could magically turn into a snowy ski town for one night only, your oddly specific holiday dream is coming true.

This Friday, December 19th, Ritual Grounds Cafe is hosting the Blizzard Bazaar, a one-night winter takeover that promises to be equal parts holiday market, immersive experience, and straight-up spectacle.

From 5 to 9 p.m., the event space at 1960 5th Avenue South will transform into a nostalgic 1980s ski resort called Yeti Peak, complete with snow flurries, Christmas lights, and a few surprises lurking in the lodge.

In October, Ritual Grounds drew more than 5,000 people to its wildly popular Spooky Island Market.

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St. Pete becomes Florida’s first city to allow affordable housing on religious property

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St. Pete becomes Florida’s first city to allow affordable housing on religious property

The City of St. Pete has become the first municipality in Florida to adopt a provision into its City Code allowing affordable housing to be built on land owned by religious institutions regardless of underlying zoning, following the passage of a new state law earlier this year.

While the Florida Senate Bill 1730, often referred to as “Yes In God’s Backyard” or YIGBY, gives cities the option to allow affordable housing on faith-owned land, it does not require them to do so.

St. Pete’s new provision turns the state statute into a clear and usable local process.

Many congregations own property that is no longer fully used for worship or parking but was historically difficult to redevelop because it is zoned institutional or public use rather than residential.

Before SB 1730, affordable housing could be built on church land only if a city approved a rezoning, conditional use, or comprehensive plan amendment.

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M&M Video Games opens first St. Pete location in the EDGE District

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M&M Video Games opens first St. Pete location in the EDGE District

M&M Video Games, a retailer that has built a loyal following of competitive gamers and collectors since launching in 2012, has opened a new store in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete.

The shop is located at 1211 1st Avenue North, in the same building as Zubrick Magic Theatre and 1st Avenue Liquors, and held its grand opening on Friday.

The St. Pete outpost is M&M Video Games’ fifth location, joining existing stores in Tampa, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, and Largo.

Store Manager Bradley Gilmore said the team is still stocking shelves inside the 2,475 square foot space, which will carry thousands of retro and current generation video games, consoles, and trading card games.

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Love Food Central reopens as FireWater with a broader, still plant-forward menu in the Grand Central District

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Love Food Central reopens as FireWater with a broader, still plant-forward menu in the Grand Central District

After nearly a decade, a longtime spot for vegan and gluten-free dining in the Grand Central District has entered a new chapter.

Love Food Central, located at 2057 Central Avenue, recently rebranded as FireWater Cuisine & Wellness and rolled out a new menu about a week ago.

The biggest change is that FireWater, unlike its predecessor, is not strictly vegan.

The updated menu now includes vegetarian and pescatarian options, while still offering a solid lineup of vegan and gluten-free dishes.

In many ways, the shift mirrors what’s been happening recently across St. Pete’s food scene.

Over the past several years, a number of vegan restaurants have closed, including Golden Dinosaurs, Rawk Star Café, Cider Press Café, Freya’s Diner, Black Radish Grocery, Meze 119, Leafy Greens Café, and The Works by Squeeze Juice Works.

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Visioning begins for new 28-acre walkable mixed-use development near Warehouse Arts District in St. Pete

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Visioning begins for new 28-acre walkable mixed-use development near Warehouse Arts District in St. Pete

What would you create with 28 acres of land in St Pete? A park? An amphitheater? Attainable housing? Artist studios?

Those questions were at the center of a recent four-day community charrette that began to shape the future of a large industrial property along the Pinellas Trail, home to St. Petersburg Distillery and several vacant buildings.

The 28-acre site at 800 31st Street South, located west of the Warehouse Arts District and across from Gibbs High School, is owned by the Iafrate family and is envisioned as a new Creators District.

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76 new homes planned for Historic Old Pasadena in west St. Pete

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76 new homes planned for Historic Old Pasadena in west St. Pete

Mattamy Homes, North America’s largest family-owned homebuilder, is bringing a new residential community of single-family homes and townhomes to the Historic Old Pasadena neighborhood in west St. Pete.

Called SeaWinds, the multi-phased, 76-home community will span three sites: 70th Street South and 1st Avenue South; 71st Street South and 1st Avenue South; and Pasadena Avenue South and Mango Avenue South.

In October, Mattamy purchased the first property, formerly a sports field for Pasadena Community Church, for $3,737,500.

Mattamy plans to construct 20 single-family homes there, ranging from 2,156 to 2,357 square feet.

Mattamy is also under contract for a three-acre property to the east, currently home to Pasadena Community Church School, where it’ll build an addition 40 townhomes.

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Michael Saunders & Company to open new downtown St. Pete office inside 46-story 400 Central tower

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Michael Saunders & Company to open new downtown St. Pete office inside 46-story 400 Central tower

Sarasota-based real estate firm Michael Saunders & Company is expanding into downtown St. Petersburg with a new office on the ground floor of the 46-story Residences at 400 Central luxury condo tower, which is set to welcome its first residents later this month.

The company, which has served as the exclusive sales agent for Red Apple Group’s 400 Central project, has leased 3,000 square feet fronting Central Avenue. The new office slated to open in spring 2026.

In the meantime, Michael Saunders & Company will operate from a temporary office across the street at 449 Central Avenue while continuing to run the 400 Central sales gallery at 465 Central Avenue.

The expansion strengthens the firm’s presence in the Tampa Bay market at a time when it has added several well-known local agents, including the Jennifer Thayer Group, Julie Larsen, Rodger Kooser, Ashley Nuccio, Dale Guivas, Rick Scherer, and the Dynasty Group.

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Miracle at Bar Mezzo returns as St. Pete’s favorite over-the-top holiday pop-up

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Miracle at Bar Mezzo returns as St. Pete’s favorite over-the-top holiday pop-up

St. Pete’s most over-the-top holiday tradition is back. And it’s brighter, louder, and merrier than ever.

Miracle at Bar Mezzo has officially returned for its seventh season in St. Pete, reimagining the vintage-style cocktail bar at 1049 Central Avenue into a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling Christmas fever dream.

Miracle began in New York City in 2014 and has since grown into an international holiday phenomenon known for its kitschy decor, seasonal cocktails, and collectible glassware.

What began years ago as a small, cheerful setup inside Intermezzo has evolved into a full holiday takeover of Bar Mezzo.

This season’s decorations push the transformation even further with dense layers of garland and sparkle, deep saturated reds and greens, brass accents shining from every corner, and oversized ornaments that make the room feel like a spirited, grown-up version of the North Pole.

It’s immersive, it’s nostalgic, and it’s intentionally a little over the top.

“Seven years in, Miracle is still a full reset for the bar,” said owner Jarrett Sabatini. “We’re not just hanging lights and calling it a day. We rebuild the room, we rebuild the prep, and we push to make this feel bigger and better than the year before. Our goal is simple: if you only go to one Christmas pop-up bar in St. Pete, it should be this one.”

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40-unit affordable townhome community Pelican Place breaks ground in south St. Pete

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40-unit affordable townhome community Pelican Place breaks ground in south St. Pete

A vacant property across from Tangerine Plaza will become the site of a new 40-unit  townhome community, helping address affordable housing needs in south St. Pete.

Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Gulfside joined Mayor Ken Welch and other city officials Monday morning to break ground on Pelican Place at 2100 18th Avenue South.

Actual site work will commence early next year, with vertical construction anticipated to start in the fall.

"Pelican Place represents more than just homes. It's about building hope and stability for families who deserve a safe, affordable place to live," said Mike Sutton, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside. "We're proud to partner with the City of St. Petersburg to make this vision a reality."

First announced in 2022, the homes at Pelican Place will be sold to households earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

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