After years of controversy, Tubular Tokes has been sold and will rebrand as Hits & Munchies in the Grand Central District
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New faces will soon greet customers at the space formerly known as Tubular Tokes in the Grand Central District.
Earlier this week, the 1980s-themed vape and smoke shop at 2428 Central Avenue officially changed ownership and will rebrand as Hits & Munchies.
While Tubular Tokes was known for its eclectic interior and wide selection of vapes, CBD, kratom, and novelty snacks, much of the attention surrounding the shop centered on its owner, Skylar Strickland.
Strickland, who remains a polarizing figure in the neighborhood, has had a rough and very public past, including two arrests and frequent confrontations that played out both inside and outside the business.
Over time, some nearby residents and would-be customers said they liked the concept and wanted to support a locally owned shop, but ultimately chose not to patronize Tubular Tokes because of the owner himself.
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A 16-story apartment tower has been proposed across from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, replacing a larger project approved for the same property last year.
The proposed development would rise at 446 4th Street South, at the northeast corner of 5th Avenue South and 4th Street South.
The 0.7-acre property is currently home to a 105-year-old commercial building previously occupied by Fresenius Kidney Care American Dialysis Center and an adjacent surface parking lot.
The project, which would be developed by Charleston, South Carolina-based The Beach Company, will contain 165 apartments, approximately 3,200 square feet of ground-floor retail space, a 176-space parking garage, and 178 bicycle spaces.
It’s a significant change from the development St. Petersburg City Council approved for the site in February 2025.