90ten has acquired another stretch of retail properties in the edge district of downtown St Pete| Google Maps

Several retail properties along Central Avenue in the EDGE District are now under new ownership.

Dallas-based investment firm 90Ten has acquired a collection of Central Avenue properties, including 965 Central Avenue, the former home of Flagship Bank; 1027 Central Avenue, occupied by Ashe Couture Boutique; 1029 Central Avenue, home to Matter of Fact and Skyway Media; and 1033–1041 Central Avenue, which houses Poppo’s Taqueria, Sans Market, and Pure Green Juice Bar.

The properties were purchased for $8.5 million from Eastman Equity, which has owned most of the portfolio since 2015, with the exception of 1033–1041 Central Avenue, which was acquired in 2021.

“We love the charm of the block, the walkability, and retail,” Tripp Russ, managing partner at 90Ten, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “For us, we want to keep tenants in place and the buildings there.”

“We want to continue to add investment and welcome businesses. Our plan is just to be a good long-term partner to the community and a steward of the real estate,” he continued.

The team plans to preserve the character of the 4,200-square-foot building at 965 Central Avenue, originally constructed in 1926. The space is currently vacant and was most recently occupied by Flagship Bank, which relocated to 3303 4th Street North in 2025 after four years at the site.

Leasing has not yet launched for the property, though Russ said it is well suited for retail concepts or a fitness user.

Earlier this week, 90Ten purchased a portfolio of properties in the EdGE District. In the next 30-60 days, the firm will purchase additional properties in the neighborhood | Google maps

Additionally, 90Ten is under contract to acquire another 0.20 acres, including a grass lot east of Ashe Couture and a surface parking lot west of the former Flagship Bank. The firm is expected to close on the properties within the next one to two months.

“It’s a pedestrian hazard and cuts through the site. We want to keep the flow of retail along Central Avenue,” Russ said. “We're going to work with the city and the seller to make sure we can build something really cool there.”

The retail block acquisition represents 90Ten’s second investment in the area, following its entry into the market in late 2025 with a $10 million purchase of three properties across the street: the three-story building at 1110 Central Avenue, home to Enigma; the two-story building at 1122–1128 Central Avenue, which houses The Candle Pour and Electric Gold Tattoo; and 1114 Central Avenue, occupied by Sweetgreen.

“We jumped on the first property portfolio very quickly. Since then, our phones have been ringing about real estate opportunities here,” Russ said.

In total, the two acquisitions represent a combined investment of $18.5 million in the EDGE District.

“We're spending a lot of money in this market. I think we can do something really special here,” Russ said.