February 02, 2026

Dads’ Kitchen & Co., a classic-style diner, to replace 2D Cafe in the Grand Central District

February 02, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

A new breakfast and lunch spot is preparing to open this month on Central Avenue, bringing a classic diner feel and a family-centered mission to the Grand Central District.

Dads’ Kitchen and Co. will debut at 2105 Central Avenue, next to the Speakeasy Central Kava Bar, replacing the former 2D Cafe, which closed in early 2025 after three years in business.

“We are two proud dads raising four incredible kids, building a life rooted in love, family, and community,” owners Nick Ellis and Joseph Christianson wrote on Facebook.

Ellis, a social worker, and Christianson, an experienced cook, are parents of adopted children who are both intellectually and physically disabled.

“Our journey into opening this restaurant wasn’t just about food—it was about creating something meaningful for our children and for the neighborhood we call home,” the post continued.

“As parents, we wanted to build a place that reflects the values we teach at our kitchen table every day: kindness, respect, hard work, and showing up for one another. This restaurant is an extension of our family—a space filled with laughter, connection, and meals made with care.”

February 02, 2026

Six-story resort with waterpark and rooftop bar denied again on St. Pete Beach

February 02, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

After nearly two years of plan revisions, public hearings, and formal dispute resolution, the St. Pete Beach City Commission has again rejected a proposed waterfront resort that would have brought a waterpark, rooftop bar, and 100-room hotel to a vacant stretch of Gulf Boulevard along McPherson Bayou.

At its January 27th meeting, commissioners voted to deny a settlement recommendation stemming from a Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act proceeding, effectively reaffirming the city’s earlier denial of three requests tied to the proposed Windward Pass Resort.

The project was first announced in March 2024 as a six-story, 104-key hotel planned for a 2.53-acre assemblage at 3815, 3856, 3859 and 3861 Gulf Boulevard, an irregularly shaped site bookended by the Sand Cove Apartments and Sun Harbor Condos.

January 30, 2026

St. Pete asks residents to weigh in on future seawall and shoreline improvements

January 30, 2026/ Kyla Fields

After several years of planning, the City of St. Pete is now entering the public outreach phase of its Citywide Seawall Master Plan, a long-term effort focused on addressing coastal flooding, erosion, and shoreline resilience.

The Seawall Master Plan is designed to evaluate the condition of City-owned seawalls and create a strategy for future repairs, replacements, and shoreline improvements.

A seawall is a hardened shoreline structure, typically constructed of concrete or steel, designed to protect land from erosion, storm surge, and tidal flooding.

In St. Pete, seawalls protect neighborhoods, parks, roadways, utilities, and other critical infrastructure from rising water levels.

Pinellas County has nearly 588 miles of coastline, almost half of which is hardened with seawalls.

Within St. Petersburg alone, there are roughly 80,000 linear feet, or about 15 miles, of City-owned seawalls, in addition to an estimated 500,000 linear feet of privately owned seawalls.

January 29, 2026

After Postcard Inn closure, The Luce Hotel sets opening date on St. Pete Beach

January 29, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

After months of renovations, one of St. Pete Beach’s most popular waterfront hotels is preparing to welcome guests back under a new brand.

The Luce (pronounced “loose”), located at 6300 Gulf Boulevard, is set to open March 15th and is now accepting reservations.

The property is the former home of the Postcard Inn, a longtime beach destination that closed in 2024 after sustaining damage from back-to-back hurricanes.

Originally built in 1957, the nine-acre beachfront property has been fully renovated by The LCP Group, which purchased the site in 2022 for $83 million alongside investment partner Safanad.

Hotel management is being handled by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, and the project now operates under Marriott Tribute Portfolio.

January 29, 2026

Paloma House opens in north St. Pete as a women-centered hub for fitness, co-working, and community

January 29, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

A new women-centered community space has debuted in north St. Pete with a mission rooted in connection, support, and the realities of modern motherhood.

Paloma House is now open at 10787 Oak Street NE, bringing together co-working, wellness programming, play-care, and onsite providers in a Mediterranean-inspired setting designed to feel more like a home than a traditional workspace.

Founder Sophie Moenter, a St. Pete native and professional wedding and family photographer, said the idea for Paloma House emerged after becoming a first-time mom to her son, Remy, and realizing how difficult it can be to find genuine community during that stage of life.

“When I became a mom, I realized how essential community is—and how hard it is to find one that feels real, welcoming, and inspiring,” Moenter told St. Pete Rising during a tour of the property. “I wanted to create a space where women could show up fully, without feeling like they had to choose between who they are and how they live.”

January 28, 2026

Jimmy’s Tacos is now open in the Grand Central District

January 28, 2026/ Kyla Fields

A new spot for margaritas and quesabirria tacos has officially arrived in St. Pete.

Jimmy’s Tacos celebrated its soft opening last week at 2534 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District, marking the brand’s second location and its first in St. Pete.

The restaurant takes over the former home of vintage furniture shop The Foundry, which relocated just a few doors down to 2604 Central Avenue last year.

The St. Pete location has the same bright yellow exterior as its flagship location in Tampa’s Ybor City, , but the new space is noticeably larger, with expanded indoor seating, an outdoor back patio, and a full liquor bar.

The Grand Central District’s newest restaurant was originally slated to open last August, according to previous reporting from St. Pete Rising.

January 28, 2026

A new neighborhood coffee shop The Morning Pour opens in south St. Pete

January 28, 2026/ Kyla Fields

A small, community-oriented coffee shop has quietly opened along 18th Avenue South, offering a new gathering place for residents in south St. Pete.

The Morning Pour is located at 1701 18th Avenue South, next to handful of neighborhood businesses that includes a take-out seafood restaurant, a hair salon, and a candle shop, and just steps from The Grove, a Habitat for Humanity-built residential development.

The building was purchased last fall by Shawntavia Turner, a local real estate broker, mortgage firm owner, and affordable housing developer, who rebranded the property as The Gateway at Turnkey.

While evaluating the site, Turner decided one of the spaces would be best suited as a coffee shop designed to function as a communal gathering place for the surrounding neighborhood.

January 28, 2026

Orlando Health completes Institute Square, a new medical campus next to Bayfront Hospital in downtown St. Pete

January 28, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Orlando Health has completed construction on Institute Square, a new medical campus just north of its 480-bed Bayfront Hospital in downtown St. Petersburg’s Innovation District.

The development spans an entire city block bounded by 5th Avenue South, 6th Avenue South, 7th Street South, and 8th Street South.

It includes a four-story Orlando Health Medical Pavilion, a three-story Orlando Health Women’s Pavilion, and a five-story, 817-space parking garage that also houses an imaging center and a wound care center.

Hospital leaders are expected to formally mark the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 12th.

Construction on the project began in late 2023, led by Turner Construction Company. Orlando-based construction firm Finfrock built the parking garage.

January 27, 2026

North America’s largest private homebuilder to build 53 luxury townhomes on Gandy in north St. Pete

January 27, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

The largest privately owned homebuilder in North America has acquired 10 acres in north St. Petersburg, where it plans to build a luxury townhome community.

Earlier this month, Toronto-based Mattamy Homes purchased 53 fully entitled townhome sites at 12000 Gandy Boulevard from Miami-based Key International for $12.64 million.

The property is part of the 39-acre Amara Bay Residences & Marina, a mixed-use project currently in development by Key International that will also include 418 apartments across six four-story buildings, an 8,000-square-foot waterfront restaurant, and a 37,800-square-foot public marina with 150 boat slips.

Key International purchased the entire Amara Bay site for $14.44 million in 2022.

January 23, 2026

Crispy Avenue brings European café culture to the Grand Central District

January 23, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

A new European-inspired café has arrived in the Grand Central District, bringing artisan pastries, functional coffee, and a globally influenced menu to Central Avenue.

Crispy Avenue soft-opened last week at 2040 Central Avenue, across from the former Haslam’s Bookstore and next to Trophy Fish.

The 800-square-foot storefront combines a cozy café vibe with a serious culinary approach, led by co-owners Dragan and Martina Pelevic.

Inside, the space features around 12 seats and a large mural depicting European landmarks, including Rome’s Colosseum and Paris’ Eiffel Tower. A large shelf contains a variety of international snacks, truffle and brie-flavored potato chips from France and Oreos from South Korea.

Classical European music plays overhead, giving off the relaxed vibe of neighborhood cafés found throughout Europe.