Urban Brew & BBQ to close after 12 years in the Grand Central District

Urban Brew & BBQ to close after 12 years in the Grand Central District

Urban Brew and BBQ, a trailblazer in St. Pete’s Grand Central District, will serve its final plates on Saturday, September 6th.

The restaurant announced the decision on social media, thanking guests for “a wild ride” and inviting regulars to stop in one last time.

To mark the send-off, an event dubbed “Urban’s Last Dance” will be held on Saturday from 11 a.m. until sellout at 2601 Central Avenue. A buffet will be offered at “$12 for 12 great years”.

For over 12 years, Urban became a reliable neighborhood hangout. Even as Grand Central blossomed with new breweries, bars, coffee shops, boutiques, and restaurants, the barbecue joint remained a steady anchor.

“I think what it really comes down to is expenses have kept climbing,” owner Andy Salyards told St. Pete Rising. “Revenue has stayed about the same, but at the end of the day, you need such a high sales volume to make it work.”

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Long-awaited Red Mesa Mercado opening soon in west St. Pete

Long-awaited Red Mesa Mercado opening soon in west St. Pete

The wait is nearly over. After more than two years of anticipation, Red Mesa Mercado is putting the finishing touches on its second location.

The popular Cali-Mex eatery will officially open in October at 6001 Central Avenue in west St. Pete. The space previously housed Two Graces and, before that, the Reading Room.

The restaurant is part of the Red Mesa Group, which has deep roots in St. Pete. This year, the original Red Mesa on 4th Street is celebrating 30 years in business. Meanwhile, Red Mesa Cantina has been downtown since 2009.

The group expanded again in 2014 with Red Mesa Mercado in the EDGE District at 1100 1st Avenue North. Over the past decade, Mercado has established itself as a regular stop in the neighborhood. Now, the second location is just weeks away from its grand debut.

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Chipotle taking over former KFC in Largo near Indian Rocks Beach

Chipotle taking over former KFC in Largo near Indian Rocks Beach

Permits have been filed for a new Chipotle Mexican Grill in Largo, marking another expansion for the popular fast-casual chain.

Known for its streamlined menu of burritos, tacos, and bowls, the restaurant will open at 13677 Walsingham Road, just five minutes from Indian Rocks Beach, in a former KFC building.

The 2,885-square-foot space is being renovated at a cost of $400,000. Once complete, the restaurant will seat 46 diners inside and another 12 on an outdoor patio.

The project’s architect is Dungan Design Group LLC of Overland Park, Kansas, while Clearwater-based Strategic Commercial Construction is serving as the general contractor.

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Farm-to-table restaurant Naked Farmer to expand with new location on 4th Street North

Farm-to-table restaurant Naked Farmer to expand with new location on 4th Street North

Farm-to-table fast-casual restaurant Naked Farmer is planting deeper roots in St. Petersburg.

The St. Pete–born brand told St. Pete Rising it will open a second location in the Sunshine City next summer at 2631 4th Street North, a 1,920-square-foot space that previously housed EVOS.

The upcoming location marks another milestone in Naked Farmer’s rapid growth.

Founded in 2020 in downtown St. Pete, the restaurant has grown to eight locations across Florida, including Tampa, Coral Gables, Sunrise, Miami, Sarasota, and Fort Lauderdale.

Expansion outside the state is also underway, with upcoming restaurants in Nashville, TN and Charlotte, NC.

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French bakery and bistro Mademoiselle Paris coming to Gulfport this winter

French bakery and bistro Mademoiselle Paris coming to Gulfport this winter

By 2016, they had opened their first Mademoiselle Paris location at the UTC mall in Sarasota. Not long after, the couple debuted locations in downtown Sarasota and Anna Maria Island.

The Gulfport location will be their most ambitious yet.

The 4,000-square-foot space will feature plenty of outdoor seating, a walk-up bakery window for early morning croissants and coffee, live French music on the weekends, and for the first time cocktails in addition to their extensive wine selection.

Guests staying at the Peninsula Inn will find a QR code in each room for easy ordering. And in the future, depending on demand, Mademoiselle may offer direct delivery to hotel rooms.

Why Gulfport? For the Dandonneaus, the decision was serendipitous.

“We’d been looking for a spot in St. Pete for a while. We love it there, it feels more European to us,” Myriam explains. “Then one night we had dinner at Pia’s in downtown Gulfport. The street was alive with music, people were smiling everywhere. We felt something special.”

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Fire Flow St. Pete to bring infrared-heated hot yoga and sculpt classes to downtown St. Pete

Fire Flow St. Pete to bring infrared-heated hot yoga and sculpt classes to downtown St. Pete

A modern, locally owned hot yoga and sculpt studio is preparing to open next month in St. Pete. 

FireFlow will officially debut to the public on Saturday, August 2nd at 290 9th Street North.

Behind this exciting new venture is Selin Arsezen, a well-known figure in St. Pete’s yoga community who holds a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification (RYT-500). 

Selin taught power yoga and sculpt classes locally in St. Pete for several years before deciding to create her own space.

The new 2,500-square-foot boutique studio will feature premium shock-absorbing floors for enhanced comfort and safety, along with high-quality infrared heating panels. 

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Chuck E. Cheese opens spin-off arcades for adults — including one in St. Pete

Chuck E. Cheese opens spin-off arcades for adults — including one in St. Pete

Chuck E. Cheese has introduced a new arcade concept built for adults, and it just landed at Tyrone Square Mall in west St. Pete.

Located at 6901 22nd Avenue North, tucked next to Old Navy near the food court, Chuck’s Arcade is nothing like the Chuck E. Cheese you might remember from decades past, though it still carries a little bit of that legacy along for the ride.

No pizza. No birthday songs. No singing animals. Instead, the space is packed wall to wall with arcade machines, both modern and a little retro, plus a redemption counter filled with Chuck E. Cheese-branded prizes.

Earlier this year, the company launched several mall-based arcades under the name “Fun Spot Arcade,” a more generic arcade experience with no recognizable branding.

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Steakhouse and martini bar The Blu Halo opens in north St. Pete

Steakhouse and martini bar The Blu Halo opens in north St. Pete

A stylish new steakhouse has opened in North St. Pete.

The Blu Halo officially debuted on Monday June 30th at 221 Main Street North on the ground floor of Park & Main, a new 17-story luxury apartment tower at the growing Echelon City Center development in the Carillon Office Park.

Originally founded in Tallahassee, The Blu Halo is a steakhouse and martini bar known for its modern take on classic American fare.

The team behind The Blu Halo chose St. Pete for its second location due to the city’s growing reputation as a dining destination. In April, the Michelin Guide recognized three restaurants in St. Pete.

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West Coast cult-favorite Dutch Bros Coffee files plans for first Pinellas County location

West Coast cult-favorite Dutch Bros Coffee files plans for first Pinellas County location

West Coast cult-favorite coffee chain Dutch Bros Coffee is planning to open its first Pinellas County location in Largo.

The new location will be built from the ground up at 2250 East Bay Drive, just west of Starkey Road.

The 967-square-foot building will include a double drive-thru and a walk-up window, designed for speed and convenience. There will be no indoor seating or customer access to the interior.

Founded in Oregon in 1992, Dutch Bros has grown to over 900 locations across the U.S.

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Whataburger files plans for Largo location, marking return to Tampa Bay after 15 years

Whataburger files plans for Largo location, marking return to Tampa Bay after 15 years

A popular Texas-based fast food chain is making a comeback in the Tampa Bay area.

Whataburger has filed plans to open a new restaurant at 10150 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

The 3,671-square-foot building was most recently home to Joella’s Hot Chicken, which closed in October 2024. Prior to Joella’s, the space housed a Pollo Tropical, and before that, a Burger King.

According to documents submitted to the City of Largo in early 2025, Whataburger is proposing a $1.3 million remodel of the existing structure, including minor architectural and aesthetic changes, as well as interior renovations to the kitchen, lobby, and dining room.

The new restaurant will feature a drive-thru and seat 62 patrons.

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