New coffee shop, juice bar, and fitness center coming to the Grand Central District
/
St. Pete is experiencing a caffeinated renaissance, evolving into a city where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafts through the air on every corner.
Last week, signs went up at the corner of Central Avenue and 18th Street advertising two new businesses coming soon to the Grand Central District.
Under Grounds Coffee & Juice Bar and Journey into Fitness will share a space on the ground floor of 1701 Central, a 243-unit, 5-story apartment building that opened in 2020.
Details are sparse, however according to the new signage, Under Grounds will feature all of your favorite espresso-based beverages, such as americanos, lattes, and cappuccinos, in addition to fresh-squeezed juices. The coffee shop will also contain patio seating fronting Central Avenue.
Read More
For years, The Joint’s patio had the bones of a great outdoor hangout: space to sit, a neighborhood crowd, and the kind of laid-back setting that feels made for a cold beer and a game on TV.
What it did not have was much protection from Florida’s sun and rain.
That is about to change. The Joint, the longtime Jungle Terrace tavern at 7630 34th Avenue North, has added a covered patio, an outdoor bar, fans, and seven TVs.
Owners Ben Scherlis and Francesco “Fran” Balzano expect to welcome customers into the new space later this month, although an opening date has not yet been finalized.
“We just wanted to open this space up and make it a whole new outdoor concept where people can sit outside, order food and drinks, and watch TV, same as you could inside,” Scherlis said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “It’s just giving people another option.”