LALA's to bring private karaoke experience to Downtown St. Pete
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Karaoke night will soon be every night at LALA St. Pete, a new restaurant, bar, and karaoke box opening at 2324 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg.
The 4,500 square foot concept will feature two floors of restaurant space with an indoor capacity of 175 seats. There will also be seven private karaoke rooms, a rooftop bar, and courtyard space which will be shared with the neighboring Grand Central Brewhouse.
Karaoke rooms, or karaoke boxes, got their start in Japan in the 1980’s. Instead of singing in a public space, such as a crowded bar, friends convened in private rooms to belt out their favorite hits. Private karaoke rooms are still most popular in Asian countries, but have recently started to gain popularity in Canada, Europe and the United States.
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Traditional Yemeni coffee is coming to downtown St. Pete.
Mocha Bay is expected to open before Thanksgiving at 401 1st Avenue North, on the ground floor of the Princess Martha, a historic senior living community.
The nearly 2,000-square-foot space was previously home to Deja Vu Café, which opened in 2016 and closed earlier this year. It is on the same block as Bar Chinchilla and the soon-to-open Sunshine City Comedy Cafe.
Mocha Bay will serve espresso drinks alongside traditional Yemeni coffee preparations, using medium-to-dark roasted beans sourced from Yemen, local businessman Hamdi Ali said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.
Traditional Yemeni coffee is often brewed in a decorative metal pot called a dallah, then served strong in small cups. It can be flavored with spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.