Drew Brees-backed cheeseburger concept Smalls Sliders coming to St. Pete

Drew Brees-backed cheeseburger concept Smalls Sliders coming to St. Pete

Louisiana-based cheeseburger sliders concept, backed by former NFL legend Drew Brees, is set to debut one of its first Tampa Bay restaurants in St. Pete.

Smalls Sliders will open its first local location at 8624 Fourth Street North in north St. Pete, near the 92-unit townhome community Terraces at 87th, according to plans submitted by franchisee Purple Square Management.

Smalls Sliders refers to its restaurants as "cans" because they typically consist of a 750-square-foot shipping container converted into a bright orange drive-thru, serving made-to-order all-beef cheeseburger sliders, seasoned waffle fries, and shakes.

The “cans” are constructed offsite in a climate-controlled factory and later “dropped” at various restaurant locations. They feature a double-lane drive-thru, a walk-up window, and outdoor patio seating.e

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21-story apartment tower approved near USFSP in downtown St. Pete

21-story apartment tower approved near USFSP in downtown St. Pete

A 105-year-old commercial property that greets commuters as they enter the downtown St. Petersburg from I-175 may soon be demolished and redeveloped into a 21-story apartment tower.

On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), unanimously approved plans to redevelop the property at 446 4th Street South, which currently consists of a surface parking lot and a one-story, 4,984-square-foot office building occupied by Fresenius Kidney Care American Dialysis Center.

The proposed project includes a 21-story mixed-use building with 2,250 square feet of commercial space, 213 residential units, and a 230-space parking garage.

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Pinellas tourism council supports funding for Morean Arts Center's Chihuly expansion, Palladium Theater renovation, and more

Pinellas tourism council supports funding for Morean Arts Center's Chihuly expansion, Palladium Theater renovation, and more

New seating and technology at Clearwater's national and state award-winning softball facility - the Eddie C. Moore Complex, a renovated Palladium Theater in St. Pete, and a new building housing St. Pete's Morean Arts Center and the Chihuly Collection are among the projects vying to receive millions of dollars in tourism funding.

During a Wednesday Pinellas Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting, members reviewed new proposed projects from some of the most notable cultural and sports tourism destinations competing for funding through the TDC's Capital Project Funding Program.

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Home of the Week: A 1925-built bungalow in Campbell Park near downtown

Home of the Week: A 1925-built bungalow in Campbell Park near downtown

This week’s featured Home of the Week is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow at 951 9th Avenue South in Campbell Park.

Built in 1925, the 1,486-square-foot home retains much of its historic character while incorporating modern updates.

The home features original hardwood floors, vintage pushbutton light switches, and period-style fixtures. The kitchen has been updated with shaker-style cabinetry, granite countertops, subway tile backsplash, and stainless steel appliances, including a flat-top stove with a pot filler.

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Revised plan approved for apartment tower on Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

Revised plan approved for apartment tower on Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

A planned apartment tower on the southwest edge of downtown St. Pete’s Mirror Lake neighborhood has been approved for increased height and additional units.

The initial plan, which was approved by the Development Review Commission in January 2023, called for a 21-story 200-unit apartment tower with 10,843 square feet of retail space and a 264-space parking garage at 699 1st Avenue North.

The new proposal is for a 23-story, 218-unit apartment tower with 11,193 square feet of retail space and a 274-space parking garage.

The properties, which Gravel Road Partners purchased in March 2022 for $6.4 million, include the parcels at 685, 694, and 699 1st Avenue North and are currently occupied by two vacant office buildings, a vacant triplex, and a surface parking lot.  

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