New wine lounge Velvet Coupe to open in the EDGE District this spring

/
New wine lounge Velvet Coupe to open in the EDGE District this spring

A new intimate wine lounge is coming soon to the EDGE District in downtown St. Pete.

Velvet Coupe is set to open this spring at 25 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South, bringing a cozy, lounge-style wine bar to a 1,428-square-foot space formerly occupied by Baked in the Burg.

Owner and operator Dina Branham describes Velvet Coupe as a “sexy, cozy hangout” designed for lingering over a glass of wine rather than rushing in and out.

The lounge will seat roughly 30 guests in total, including an eight-to-ten-seat bar, with a mix of low tables, stools, and lounge-style seating throughout the space.

While the wine list won’t be tied to a single region, Branham says every bottle will be sustainably produced, with an emphasis on quality over quantity.

Read More

Lucky Cup Coffee is now brewing inside the Galaxy Hotel in downtown St. Pete

/
Lucky Cup Coffee is now brewing inside the Galaxy Hotel in downtown St. Pete

A new coffee shop has quietly opened in downtown St. Pete, bringing house-made syrups, matcha drinks, and breakfast sandwiches to a hotel lobby near Beach Drive.

Lucky Cup Coffee Co. is located inside the Galaxy Hotel at 101 3rd Avenue North and is run by longtime friends Lauren Kirk and April Lupkey.

The café softly debuted last July, turning a longtime passion into a business for the duo.

“We both love coffee and community, and we’ve always talked about opening a coffee business together,” Lupkey told St. Pete Rising. “This feels like a natural extension of who we are.”

The name Lucky Cup Coffee Co. carries personal meaning. Lupkey, who survived a life-threatening birth complication, describes herself as a miracle baby, and the concept of gratitude and good fortune is woven throughout the brand.

Lupkey first explored a café concept in 2019 at Karma Juice Bar and Eatery in Safety Harbor, owned by her mother, Josie Barber.

Read More

Pinellas Farmers and Flea Market finds new home at Derby Lane in St. Pete

/
Pinellas Farmers and Flea Market finds new home at Derby Lane in St. Pete

A popular farmers and flea market has officially made the move from Largo to St. Pete, bringing its wide mix of vendors to a new audience.

The Pinellas Farmers & Flea Market now takes place every weekend at 10490 Gandy Boulevard at Win! Derby, formerly known as Derby Lane.

The outdoor, pet-friendly market features more than 150 vendors each weekend, many of whom were longtime regulars at the former Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park before it closed in 2020.

Shoppers can browse a wide range of offerings, including fresh produce, plants, secondhand goods, and prepared foods from around the world.

The Pinellas Farmers & Flea Market is held every Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine.

Admission is free, and free parking is available for all visitors.

Read More

Paloma House opens in north St. Pete as a women-centered hub for fitness, co-working, and community

/
Paloma House opens in north St. Pete as a women-centered hub for fitness, co-working, and community

A new women-centered community space has debuted in north St. Pete with a mission rooted in connection, support, and the realities of modern motherhood.

Paloma House is now open at 10787 Oak Street NE, bringing together co-working, wellness programming, play-care, and onsite providers in a Mediterranean-inspired setting designed to feel more like a home than a traditional workspace.

Founder Sophie Moenter, a St. Pete native and professional wedding and family photographer, said the idea for Paloma House emerged after becoming a first-time mom to her son, Remy, and realizing how difficult it can be to find genuine community during that stage of life.

“When I became a mom, I realized how essential community is—and how hard it is to find one that feels real, welcoming, and inspiring,” Moenter told St. Pete Rising during a tour of the property. “I wanted to create a space where women could show up fully, without feeling like they had to choose between who they are and how they live.”

Read More

Popular ‘dirty soda’ chain Swig eyes first Pinellas County location

/
Popular ‘dirty soda’ chain Swig eyes first Pinellas County location

A viral soda drive-thru by way of Utah may be putting down roots in Pinellas County.

In late December, a pre-application meeting request was filed with the City of Largo, kick-starting the early stages of a potential Swig at the corner of Missouri Avenue North and Rosery Road Northwest between a PNC Bank and Extra Space Storage.

If the project ultimately moves forward, the Largo parcel would become the first Swig in Pinellas County, and one of just a handful of locations in the greater Tampa Bay area.

Founded in Utah, Swig is best known for its customizable “dirty sodas”, a signature creation that combines classic sodas with flavored syrups, fresh fruit purees, and creamy add-ins like coconut cream. 

Read More

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

/
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.

Read More

619-unit Alton Skyway apartment community planned for SPC’s Allstate Campus in the Skyway Marina District

/
619-unit Alton Skyway apartment community planned for SPC’s Allstate Campus in the Skyway Marina District

For the first time, detailed plans have been filed showing what will replace St. Petersburg College’s former Allstate Campus in the Skyway Marina District.

Delray Beach–based Kolter Multifamily has submitted a site plan review application to the City of St. Pete for Alton Skyway, a luxury garden-style apartment development proposed for the 17.25-acre property at 3200 34th Street South.

The plans call for 619 apartments across eight five-story buildings and neighborhood-scale retail.

According to the application, which is scheduled to be reviewed by the city’s Development Review Commission in February, Alton Skyway would be constructed in two phases.

Phase one would deliver 342 apartments across four buildings on the southern half of the site, along with 484 parking spaces.

Phase two would add the remaining 277 units in four additional buildings and 399 parking spaces.

Read More

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

/
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.

Read More

400-unit Marina Club Apartments completes construction in the Skyway Marina District

/
400-unit Marina Club Apartments completes construction in the Skyway Marina District

Three years after breaking ground, the 400-unit Marina Club Apartments has completed construction in the Skyway Marina District, adding another large residential community to one of St. Petersburg’s fastest-growing neighborhoods.

The eight-story apartment building, located at 4341 34th Street South and overlooking Boca Ciega Bay, was developed by Jack Dougherty of Allied Group Holdings and built by Skanska USA.

Dougherty previously developed the neighboring Marina Walk Apartment Homes, a 245-unit community that opened in 2022.

Marina Club Apartments was designed by Architectonics Studio and consists of six residential floors built atop a two-story podium garage.

Read More

M&M Video Games opens first St. Pete location in the EDGE District

/
M&M Video Games opens first St. Pete location in the EDGE District

M&M Video Games, a retailer that has built a loyal following of competitive gamers and collectors since launching in 2012, has opened a new store in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete.

The shop is located at 1211 1st Avenue North, in the same building as Zubrick Magic Theatre and 1st Avenue Liquors, and held its grand opening on Friday.

The St. Pete outpost is M&M Video Games’ fifth location, joining existing stores in Tampa, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, and Largo.

Store Manager Bradley Gilmore said the team is still stocking shelves inside the 2,475 square foot space, which will carry thousands of retro and current generation video games, consoles, and trading card games.

Read More