Vietnamese coffee shop Say Coffee House planned for the Grand Central District

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Vietnamese coffee shop Say Coffee House planned for the Grand Central District

Known for TikTok-worthy slow-dripped brews topped with colorful cold foams and inventive add-ins, Vietnamese coffee shops have been popping up in major U.S. cities like New York, Portland, and Los Angeles.

Now, it’s St. Pete’s turn.

Last week, a banner appeared in the window of 2414 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District announcing Say Coffee House, set to open in March in the space formerly occupied by the Crisp Waffle Company.

The name “Say” translates to “obsessed” in Vietnamese.

“It means you drink it so much that you’re obsessed with it,” said owner Haley Huynh in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “That’s why we chose the name.”

Vietnamese coffee is traditionally brewed using a small metal drip filter called a phin, producing a bold, slow-dripped coffee.

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After years of controversy, Tubular Tokes has been sold and will rebrand as Hits & Munchies in the Grand Central District

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After years of controversy, Tubular Tokes has been sold and will rebrand as Hits & Munchies in the Grand Central District

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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Love Food Central reopens as FireWater with a broader, still plant-forward menu in the Grand Central District

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Love Food Central reopens as FireWater with a broader, still plant-forward menu in the Grand Central District

After nearly a decade, a longtime spot for vegan and gluten-free dining in the Grand Central District has entered a new chapter.

Love Food Central, located at 2057 Central Avenue, recently rebranded as FireWater Cuisine & Wellness and rolled out a new menu about a week ago.

The biggest change is that FireWater, unlike its predecessor, is not strictly vegan.

The updated menu now includes vegetarian and pescatarian options, while still offering a solid lineup of vegan and gluten-free dishes.

In many ways, the shift mirrors what’s been happening recently across St. Pete’s food scene.

Over the past several years, a number of vegan restaurants have closed, including Golden Dinosaurs, Rawk Star Café, Cider Press Café, Freya’s Diner, Black Radish Grocery, Meze 119, Leafy Greens Café, and The Works by Squeeze Juice Works.

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Michael Saunders & Company to open new downtown St. Pete office inside 46-story 400 Central tower

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Michael Saunders & Company to open new downtown St. Pete office inside 46-story 400 Central tower

Sarasota-based real estate firm Michael Saunders & Company is expanding into downtown St. Petersburg with a new office on the ground floor of the 46-story Residences at 400 Central luxury condo tower, which is set to welcome its first residents later this month.

The company, which has served as the exclusive sales agent for Red Apple Group’s 400 Central project, has leased 3,000 square feet fronting Central Avenue. The new office slated to open in spring 2026.

In the meantime, Michael Saunders & Company will operate from a temporary office across the street at 449 Central Avenue while continuing to run the 400 Central sales gallery at 465 Central Avenue.

The expansion strengthens the firm’s presence in the Tampa Bay market at a time when it has added several well-known local agents, including the Jennifer Thayer Group, Julie Larsen, Rodger Kooser, Ashley Nuccio, Dale Guivas, Rick Scherer, and the Dynasty Group.

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Inside Tropicana Field as city progresses on $60 million stadium renovation

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Inside Tropicana Field as city progresses on $60 million stadium renovation

A newly completed white dome now crowns Tropicana Field, gleaming in the sun.

Inside, more than 200 workers are stretching the fabric roof, sealing seams, and moving into the next phase of repairs.

“The roof is back on. They are still doing some of the seaming and the final sealing, but in essence, the building is dried in,” said Beth Herendeen, Managing Director of City Development for St. Petersburg, during a media tour on Wednesday. “We have no concern about being open or ready for Opening Day on April 6th, 2026.”

Above the concrete field and thousands of empty seats, the roof’s PTFE fabric alternates between white and orange-tan panels. City Architect Raul Quintana noted the color variation will fade out by spring.

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Three retail buildings on Central Avenue sell in downtown St. Pete’s EDGE District

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Three retail buildings on Central Avenue sell in downtown St. Pete’s EDGE District

Three mixed-use retail properties along the 1100 block of Central Avenue in the EDGE District are now under new ownership.

Dallas, Texas-based investment firm 90Ten has acquired properties directly adjacent to the Moxy Hotel, including the three-story building at 1110 Central Avenue, the two-story building at 1122–1128 Central Avenue, and 1114 Central Avenue, which is currently leased to Sweetgreen.

90Ten purchased the properties for $10 million.

CBRE’s James Garner and Jim Shiebler represented the seller, PTM Partners, in the transaction.

The Central Avenue block acquisition is part of the EDGE Collective, a multi-phased walkable mixed-use that includes the Moxy Hotel, the office and retail building, and a second phase that includes a 20-story luxury apartment building and additional retail.

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46-story luxury condo tower 400 Central set to begin move-ins this month in downtown St. Pete

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46-story luxury condo tower 400 Central set to begin move-ins this month in downtown St. Pete

Rising 515 feet above downtown St. Petersburg, the Residences at 400 Central is preparing to welcome its first wave of residents.

The City of St. Petersburg has issued a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) for the first 25 floors of the 46-story, 301-unit luxury condo tower, allowing buyers on the lower levels to begin closing on their units and moving in.

General contractor Suffolk Construction will continue building out floors 26 through 45, as well as the rooftop deck.

Developed by New York-based Red Apple Real Estate, 400 Central is the tallest residential building on Florida’s Gulf Coast and the tallest building in St. Pete.

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St. Pete reaches preliminary deal to buy CSX rail line running through downtown St. Pete

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St. Pete reaches preliminary deal to buy CSX rail line running through downtown St. Pete

A years-long effort to bring a key stretch of the CSX rail corridor in downtown St. Pete into public ownership, including the segment that cuts directly through Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill, is finally moving forward.

According to an October 15th email from St. Pete Transportation and Parking Management Director Evan Mory, CSX Transportation has accepted a conditional offer from the City of St. Petersburg to acquire nearly a mile of rail right-of-way stretching from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street along 1st Avenue South to 5th Avenue North.

The city plans to create a trail linking the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment and the Pinellas Trail up to 5th Avenue North, with the longer-term goal of extending it to Booker Creek Park in North Kenwood.

The purchase is expected to cost $7 million, with $1 million coming from the City of St. Pete, $4 million from Mark Ferguson of Ferg’s Sports Bar, and $2 million from Ellison Development.

The offer cannot move forward without City Council approval, which is expected within the next 30 days.

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Bouquet and Bordeaux to bring French-inspired floral boutique and wine bar to the EDGE District

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Bouquet and Bordeaux to bring French-inspired floral boutique and wine bar to the EDGE District

A wave of vivid street-side floral displays arranged in metal buckets and spilling onto the sidewalk is set to bring a touch of Parisian charm to downtown St. Pete, inspired by France’s open-air markets.

Named Bouquet and Bordeaux and described as “where Southern charm meets Parisian flair,” the new floral shop and wine bar will open at 9 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South in the EDGE District in spring 2026. The space previously housed The Annex Training Studio.

Spanning 2,700 square feet, the boutique is designed as a place to sip, socialize, and browse blooms.

Plans include a DIY flower bar and hands-on classes teaching balanced floral compositions for bridal showers, weddings, and holidays, in addition to kid-friendly workshops where children can make mini bouquets, flower crowns, or flower wands.

Capturing the feel of French culture and translating it into a brick-and-mortar concept in St. Pete has been a goal for founder Leigh Catoe Tillman for years.

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PNC Bank to open branch at 400 Central as tower nears completion in downtown St. Pete

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PNC Bank to open branch at 400 Central as tower nears completion in downtown St. Pete

Downtown St. Pete’s tallest tower has landed another major retail tenant.

PNC Bank has signed a lease for a roughly 3,000-square-foot branch at the 46-story Residences at 400 Central, which is slated to open later this year.

The branch be located along Central Avenue in the 301-unit condo tower being developed by New York–based Red Apple Group, which will include 60,000 square feet of high-end ground-floor retail and restaurant space.

Founder John Catsimatidis Sr. said PNC’s arrival underscores both the project’s momentum and its ties to the site’s past.

“Red Apple has a longstanding relationship with PNC across multiple business lines and we are thrilled to welcome them as a tenant at our iconic 400 Central project,” Catsimatidis said.

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