With everything going on in Downtown St. Pete last month, this column could’ve easily been twice as long. As always, we’re here to bring you the CliffsNotes, by sharing what we feel are the most significant stories from the past month.

Along with the updates below, a handful of new businesses opened including a sauna studio, an art gallery, a boba tea cafe, a waterfront restaurant, and a restaurant and bar serving global tapas. Additionally, an apartment development wrapped up construction and began move-ins, a proposed condo tower gained Council’s approval, and an older apartment community announced major renovations. Lastly, we learned about the future expansion of a local men’s barbershop.

As many of you are aware, we write a column every month called Downtown Developments for Green Bench Monthly, a local community magazine. In the column, we highlight everything coming soon to Downtown St. Pete, including new restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. We also reveal new tower renderings, announce townhome projects, and much more. A few months ago, we started publishing that column right here on St. Pete Rising, in addition to Green Bench Monthly!

Want the news first? Be sure to follow us! Most of what we discuss in Downtown Developments has already been posted to either our website, newsletter, Facebook, or Instagram. With Downtown Developments, you’ll never miss the latest Downtown St. Pete news.

The EDGE District’s first dedicated wine bar is opening soon at 1005 1st Avenue North. Equal parts wine bar and retail store, CellarMasters Wine Bar & Bottle Shop will offer a large and ever-changing selection of both natural wines and celebrated producers for onsite consumption or to take home. A fine wine room will be available to guests in search of more curated and cult-worthy wines, as well, all at competitive retail prices. Also, a limited and reasonably-priced food menu will be available, allowing patrons to pair their wine selections with carefully sourced cheeses, charcuterie, and ingredient-driven small plates. CellarMasters is expected to open by late fall.

Better Than Sex, a dessert restaurant, is coming soon to the EDGE District of Downtown St Pete! Founded in Key West in 2008, Better Than Sex is the unequivocal queen of confections, where all of the menu items have sexual innuendos. The dessert lounge specializes in cake slices, such as a red velvet cheesecake with cream cheese frosting and a double chocolate cookie dough bottom. Also popular are their wines poured into chocolate-rimmed wine glasses. A location has not been revealed yet, but the goal is to be open by Valentine’s Day 2020.

Rocket Fizz is coming soon to 668 Central Avenue (formerly Daddy Kool Records) in Downtown St Pete. Reminiscent of old fashioned candy shops, Rocket Fizz will offer a gigantic selection of candy and soda that’ll send you back in time to when you were a kid. Indulge in classics such as Charleston Chew, Abba-Zaba, Pop Rocks, Pixy Stix, and candy cigarettes. Or try one of the 500 varieties of craft soda! The shop will also sells hundreds of retro and gag gifts, concert and movie posters, and tin signs too. Buildout is currently underway in St. Pete with an expected opening by the end of October.

A 12-story condo tower has been proposed less than a block from bustling Beach Drive. The project, called The Perry, will contain 22 residences ranging from 1,700 to 2,700 square feet. Amenities at the building include a rooftop terrace, fitness center, bicycle storage, and a private garage. The Perry joins a growing list of projects in the immediate area including the controversial Blue Lotus, the Galaxy Hotel, and the Bliss condominium tower. Construction is expected to begin in early 2020. Pricing is not available yet.

Book + Bottle is coming soon to 17 6th Street North (formerly Holmes Shoe Repair) in Downtown St Pete. Located just behind Wig Villa, Book + Bottle will be a combination bookstore and wine bar. Whether you’re looking for a place to read, spruce up your book collection, work remotely, try new types of wine, chat with friends, or just relax, Book + Bottle will be the place for you! The goal is to have the doors open by December.