June 02, 2026

Red Mesa Cantina closes after 16 years in downtown St. Pete

June 02, 2026/ Brian Zucker

One of downtown St. Pete's longest-running restaurants and event venues has closed its doors.

Red Mesa Cantina announced Monday that it has permanently closed after 16 years in downtown St. Pete.

The closure also includes the Red Mesa Event Spaces located above the restaurant, which hosted weddings, corporate events, holiday parties, and other celebrations over the years.

Located at 128 3rd Street South, Red Mesa Cantina became a fixture of downtown's dining and nightlife scene, known for its tacos, queso, guacamole, margaritas, extensive tequila selection, and rooftop events.

When Red Mesa Cantina opened in 2010, downtown St. Pete looked much different than it does today.

The city was still working its way out of the Great Recession, BayWalk was struggling with vacancies, the inverted pyramid Pier was still open, and much of Central Avenue was lined with vacant storefronts, antique shops, and surface parking lots.

Many of the apartment towers, hotels, and restaurants that now fill downtown had yet to be built.

May 28, 2026

Nightwatch, a neighborhood wine bar, is coming to the Grand Central District

May 28, 2026/ Brian Zucker

A new neighborhood wine bar is coming to the Grand Central District, with an expansive wine list, a large backyard patio, and a casual, laidback vibe.

Nightwatch is expected to open before the end of the year at 2817 Central Avenue.

The concept comes from Bryce Kennedy and Sydney Knowlton, the owners behind Neighborhood Wine Shop, which recently celebrated its first anniversary a few doors down at 2875 Central Avenue.

The 1,200-square-foot bar will offer a large wine selection, with roughly 250 to 300 labels planned for the bottle list, alongside around 20 to 25 wines by the glass at any given time.

Beer, non-alcoholic cocktails, and low-ABV cocktails will also be available.

“The focus will be on wines in the $70 to $120 range,” Kennedy said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “That’ll make up the bulk of the menu. That being said, if you want to come in and order an expensive Burgundy or old Bordeaux, we’ll have that too. It just won’t be the focus.”

The food menu will stay simple with cheeses, charcuterie, and bar bites offered.

May 12, 2026

Buttermilk Eatery to replace Urban Brew & BBQ in the Grand Central District

May 12, 2026/ Brian Zucker

A popular local restaurant known for its oversized breakfast platters and robot food runners is heading to the Grand Central District this summer.

Buttermilk Eatery will open at 2601 Central Avenue, taking over the former Urban Brew & BBQ space, which closed last September after 12 years in business.

The new restaurant will feature approximately 1,400 square feet of indoor space alongside an expansive 3,000-square-foot covered patio on Central Avenue.

Locally owned and privately operated, Buttermilk Eatery currently has two other locations: one in north St. Pete that opened in early 2023 and another in Pinellas Park that followed in 2024.

“We’re excited to keep growing locally and bring Buttermilk to the Grand Central District,” said one of Buttermilk’s owners in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “This neighborhood has a lot of energy, and we think the concept fits really well here.”

May 06, 2026

12-story, 150-unit affordable housing tower proposed for former Playhouse Theater site in Grand Central District

May 06, 2026/ Brian Zucker

The former Playhouse Theater and Morph Nightclub properties in St. Pete’s Grand Central District could soon be demolished for a new affordable housing tower near downtown St. Pete.

Tampa-based affordable housing developer Blue Sky Communities has the 0.61-acre site at 1850 Central Avenue and 1833 1st Avenue South under contract for $6.25 million.

The deal is expected to close in March 2027.

Plans call for a 12-story, 150-unit affordable apartment tower, called JR Tower, with 3,000 square feet of commercial space.

“Getting affordable and workforce housing in downtown St. Pete is becoming increasingly difficult so this is an opportunity that doesn’t present itself often,” Blue Sky Communities Executive Vice President and CFO Scott Macdonald said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

“I hope it will alleviate a lot of the challenges this area is seeing for staffing businesses. Additionally, we are excited for the residents to be able to utilize the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as JR Tower will be a quarter of a mile from a BRT station,” Macdonald added.

Blue Sky Communities plans to utilize Chapter 17.5 of St. Pete’s municipal code, which allows affordable housing developments on certain commercially and industrially zoned properties in exchange for long-term affordability requirements.

April 28, 2026

Five affordable homes proposed for city-owned land on 18th Avenue South

April 28, 2026/ Brian Zucker

An unsolicited proposal submitted to the City of St. Pete could bring a small cluster of permanently affordable homes to a vacant site in south St. Pete.

Bright Community Trust is requesting the donation of four city-owned parcels at 2013 18th Avenue South, where it plans to develop five cottage-style homes targeted to income-restricted buyers.

Each home would include two bedrooms, one bathroom, and roughly 900 square feet of living space.

Plans also call for a shared green space, nine parking spaces, and individual lot configurations that would allow each home to function as its own property.

The city’s willingness to consider the unsolicited proposal has triggered a formal Notice of Intent to Dispose of City-Owned Real Estate, which was published to the city’s website last week.

That notice opens the door for other developers or nonprofits to submit competing proposals for the property.

Interested parties have until Friday, May 22nd at 12 p.m. to submit an alternative proposal for the lease, purchase, or development of the site.

April 28, 2026

Construction begins on The Cade, a seven-story boutique condo building overlooking Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

April 28, 2026/ Brian Zucker

Construction is underway on a new boutique condo building overlooking Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete.

St. Pete-based Backstreets Capital has officially broken ground on The Cade, a seven-story residential project planned for 749 Burlington Avenue North featuring just 15 luxury residences overlooking the historic lake.

The project has seen strong early sales demand, with 40% of residences already under contract since sales launched two months ago.

“The response to The Cade has validated what we set out to create,” said Will Conroy, President of Backstreets Capital. “With construction now underway and nearly half the residences already spoken for, it’s clear there is strong demand for a more refined, residential experience in our downtown.”

“The Cade is perfect for people who want the privacy, space, and character of a custom home, paired with an irreplaceable lakefront location,” Conroy added.

April 23, 2026

Asian grocery store to open in Grand Central District by owners of Pin on Grand

April 23, 2026/ Brian Zucker

An Asian grocery store is coming to the Grand Central District.

Pin Family Mart is preparing to open at 2452 Central Avenue, just a few doors down from Pin on Grand, the Asian fusion restaurant owned by husband-and-wife duo Som and Roger Rattanachane at 2458 Central Avenue.

The market will take over the former Lightwave Quantum Wellness space and is targeting a July debut, pending product shipments from Asia.

It will carry items from Thailand, Japan, Korea, Laos, China, and Vietnam.

The concept is led by Som alongside her cousin, Natchaya “Phim” Kraiboot, and their parents, who are expected to move to St. Pete from Thailand to help operate the store.

“Our goal is to create a premium destination for authentic Asian products imported to the U.S., combined with some locally sourced items as well,” Som said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

Pin Family Mart builds on the success of Pin on Grand, which opened in 2024 after relocating from the EDGE District.

April 13, 2026

DalMoros Fresh Pasta to Go moving to the Jannus Block in downtown St. Pete

April 13, 2026/ Brian Zucker

A new restaurant is coming to one of downtown St. Pete’s most active nightlife blocks.

DalMoros, which serves fresh pasta made to order, will open in a 1,100-square-foot space at 204 1st Avenue North, on the corner of 2nd Street North and 1st Avenue North across from Olivia.

The space was previously home to Moon Mountain, which closed earlier this year after about two years in business.

DalMoros first opened in May 2021 at 653 Central Avenue and has since outgrown the space.

The plan was originally to relocate just a few doors down to 683 Central Avenue, but after months of delays, ownership decided to pivot to the Jannus Block instead.

DalMoros is now hoping to reopen at the new location on May 1st.

March 23, 2026

New stand-up comedy club to open this May in the Grand Central District

March 23, 2026/ Brian Zucker

A stand-up comedy group that has spent the past several years bouncing between breweries, bars and back rooms across St. Pete is getting a permanent home in the Grand Central District.

St. Pete Stand-Up will open its first dedicated comedy club, called St. Pete Comedy Club, at 1745 1st Avenue South.

The 3,600-square-foot venue, which previously housed Avid Brew Company, is expected to open in May.

Blakemore Kearney of Vector Commercial Real Estate Services represented the landlord and tenant in the lease transaction.

For founder Bob Holden, the new club marks the next step for something that started as a single monthly show at St. Pete Brewing and has since grown into one of the most active live entertainment offerings in the city.

March 17, 2026

The Chattaway, St. Petersburg’s longest-running restaurant, will close this summer after more than 90 years

March 17, 2026/ Brian Zucker

St. Petersburg’s longest-running restaurant will close its doors this summer.

The Chattaway, a family-owned staple at 358 22nd Avenue South, will serve its last meal in mid-July after more than 90 years serving the community.

The property, which has been owned by the family for decades, is now under contract and expected to transfer to a new owner in early August.

The family plans to host a final “yard sale” in July, offering memorabilia and pieces of the restaurant’s history.

The Chattaway’s story begins in 1922, when a wooden building was constructed on a pie-shaped lot on the corner of 22nd Avenue South and 4th Street South.

The building’s first tenant was Four Corners Grocery, a neighborhood store with a small outdoor counter selling soda, candy, and cigarettes.

A single gas pump stood out front, where fuel once sold for just 22 cents per gallon.