Global sailing race will make St. Pete its North American stop in 2027

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Global sailing race will make St. Pete its North American stop in 2027

St. Pete is set to take center stage on the global sailing circuit.

The Ocean Race, widely considered one of the toughest professional sporting events in the world, will make its first-ever Gulf Coast stop in 2027, with downtown St. Petersburg serving as the North American host for a new transatlantic leg of the race.

The announcement is a major win for the area, which will bring an internationally recognized event to the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg waterfront.

The 15th edition of The Ocean Race will begin in Alicante, Spain on Sunday, January 17th, 2027, sending a fleet of IMOCA 60-foot sailboats on a 14,000-nautical-mile opening leg to Auckland, New Zealand.

From there, teams will head to Itajaí, Brazil before arriving in downtown St. Pete for a scheduled stopover from May 4th through May 16th, 2027.

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Dali Museum unveils $65 million expansion in downtown St. Pete

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Dali Museum unveils $65 million expansion in downtown St. Pete

The Dali Museum is preparing for a major expansion that will bring new galleries, learning spaces, and immersive art experiences to its downtown St. Pete waterfront campus.

Museum officials on Wednesday unveiled plans for a $65 million expansion that will add approximately 35,000 square feet to the property at 1 Dali Boulevard.

Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026, with the new spaces scheduled to open to the public in 2028.

The expansion will introduce flexible gallery spaces designed for immersive exhibitions that blend art and technology, a dedicated learning center for K–12 students and adult education programs, and new community event spaces for gatherings and cultural programming.

“We are creating a museum that will stand with the great cultural institutions of the world, prepared to meet the expectations of today’s visitors and the curiosity of those who will walk through these doors decades from now,” said Hank Hine, executive director of The Dali Museum. “This is a defining moment for our institution and for St. Petersburg. It’s not about being bigger; it’s about being bolder.”

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After hours of debate, 21-story, 370-unit luxury apartment tower wins approval in downtown St. Pete

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After hours of debate, 21-story, 370-unit luxury apartment tower wins approval in downtown St. Pete

A cluster of small affordable apartment buildings could soon be demolished to make way for a 21-story, 370-unit luxury apartment tower in downtown St. Petersburg.

After hours of debate, the city’s Development Review Commission voted 6-1 Wednesday evening to approve the project planned for a 1.3-acre site along 5th Avenue North between 4th and 5th Streets.

In addition to 370 apartments, the project, known as The Pelican, would also include 3,819 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and a 485-space parking garage.

St. Pete-based Stadler Development, led by John Stadler and his son Chris, is spearheading the $134 million project, which would share a city block with the Hollander Hotel and Trinity Lutheran Church.

Stadler is under contract to purchase the property from local investor Michael Andoniades, who owns the Hollander Hotel and several other properties throughout the city.

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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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