St. Petersburg Distillery is expanding into the evening hours with a new speakeasy inside its Warehouse Arts District campus.

Tucked inside the distillery’s industrial warehouse at 800 31st Street South, a secluded second-floor space has been reworked into an intimate, 45-seat speakeasy that opens today at 6 p.m.

“This is when people want to come together and socialize, from six o’clock to midnight,” CEO Evan Brownstein said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

The space, called 31 South, sits above the distillery’s production floor, where guests typically end their tours.

What was once a simple tasting area has been redesigned into a swanky lounge with dim mood lighting, vintage furnishings, a mix of gold and green accents, and jazz music playing overhead.

“The tours are all about educating our guests. We want this space to be where they can socialize and relax,” Brownstein said. “It’ll be a hidden gem within a hidden gem.”

The redesign was led by marketing coordinator Meridian Joy-Piper and VP of Operations Kylie Judge, who sourced much of the furniture and decor locally and incorporated historic photos throughout the space.

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is preparing to take a major step toward bringing ferry service back to Tampa Bay, with its board set to vote Wednesday on a plan to purchase two vessels and launch the new Tampa Bay Ferry later this year.

At a press event Monday morning at Tampa Convention Center, officials from PSTA, alongside leaders from Tampa and St. Petersburg and ferry operator Hubbard’s Marina, outlined how the service could operate with two boats running seven days a week.

Since selecting Madeira Beach-based Hubbard’s Marina as the new operator for the ferry service late last year, PSTA and Hubbard’s Marina have collaboratively spearheaded a nationwide search for potential vessels.

“We’re committed to creating this service the right way, so it’s sustainable for the long term,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller.

The purchase and renovation of the two vessels will be funded by a $4.8 million federal grant originally awarded in 2021.