August 14, 2025

Southern Grounds to open cafe and restaurant on Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete

August 14, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Southern Grounds and Co., a Jacksonville-based coffeehouse franchise focused on building community around high-quality food and drinks, is expanding to downtown St. Petersburg.

The bright, modern coffee shop will open Monday, August 18th next to The Melting Pot inside the newly built two-story building at 695 Central Avenue.

St. Pete’s coffee scene continues to grow, with each shop offering a unique experience. Southern Grounds aims to be more than just a coffeehouse, blending elements of a tapas bar and restaurant to create a co-working-style community gathering space.

The new 2,430-square-foot location features a clean white aesthetic accented by colorful, Florida-inspired murals painted by local artist Matt Kress. The open floor plan offers a mix of couch and table seating designed to encourage connection and conversation.

August 12, 2025

St. Pete-Clearwater Airport moves forward with redeveloping 128-acre Airco site

August 12, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A former golf course property spanning 128 acres next to the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is set to be redeveloped, beginning with the construction of a new taxiway that will lay the groundwork for a future aviation business park.

For the past two decades, PIE has been working toward redeveloping the county-owned property known as the Airco site. The site is the largest contiguous piece of developable land in Pinellas County. PIE is now moving forward with selecting a contractor for the first phase of the project, a new taxiway located off Ulmerton Road.

“The taxiway is the first step to redeveloping the property and providing the infrastructure for future businesses there, especially aviation companies, which we’ve seen a lot of demand for,” said PIE Public Relations Director Michelle Routh in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

August 11, 2025

Real estate investor purchases another property near Salt Creek in St. Pete for $6 million

August 11, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Clearwater-based real estate company Prometheus Partners, which has been quietly assembling acres of contiguous property just south of downtown St. Petersburg, has acquired another site.

Through its affiliate, Prometheus Franchise Restaurant Holdings LLC, the group purchased the 24,500-square-foot warehouse at 1499 Beach Drive SE for $6 million from Cato Holdings LLC.

Built in 1959, the art deco-style building sits on 1.37 acres near Salt Creek. It currently houses the Salt Creek Arts Center, a maker space offering studios and galleries for local artists, as well as moving company Swift Moves.

August 06, 2025

29-story condo tower approved for 4th Street South in downtown St. Pete

August 06, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A Clearwater-based developer has received approval to build a new 29-story residential tower in downtown St. Petersburg.

Valor Capital plans to construct a $70 million, 165-unit condominium tower on the northeast corner of 4th Street South and 4th Avenue South, just two blocks from the Publix-anchored University Village retail plaza.

At a Development Review Commission meeting on Wednesday, commissioners unanimously approved a floor area ratio (FAR) bonus and a building height bonus for the project, known as the Roche Bobois Residences. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

The approval follows a prior site plan approval for the project by the St. Petersburg City Council, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, in July.

August 05, 2025

Construction begins on 86-unit affordable housing community at Palm Lake Christian Church in Disston Heights

August 05, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Vacant land next to Palm Lake Christian Church in St. Pete’s Disston Heights neighborhood will be developed into an 86-unit affordable housing community restricted to low-income households.

Tampa-based Newstar Development recently announced the full execution of a land lease agreement between the church, the Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA), and Newstar itself.

Construction also recently commenced on the project, known as Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary, or PLUS, located at 5401 22nd Avenue North.

The development will include a four-story building with 86 units, all reserved for households earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI).

Specifically, the breakdown includes 13 units reserved for households earning 30% AMI, 14 units for 50% AMI, 42 units for 60% AMI, and 17 units for 80% AMI.

August 04, 2025

Developer buys St. Pete property in $16.5 million deal for 304-unit affordable housing complex

August 04, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Houston-based The Hanover Company, a private real estate developer, has purchased a retail plaza that is expected to be redeveloped into a 304-unit affordable housing community.

The group has acquired the 8.95-acre site at 3100 22nd Avenue North in North Kenwood for $16.5 million from ZSPR PROPCO of Tampa LLC, according to a deed recorded on August 4th. The existing 71,064-square-foot retail plaza previously housed JB Factory Flooring, Studio Physique, and a MetroPCS store.

The Hanover Company also took out a $46.92 million loan from Texas-based Comica Bank.

The company’s redevelopment plans, which were filed in 2024, represented the first Live Local Act application received by the City of St. Petersburg.

July 31, 2025

Retro Florida motel-themed bar No Vacancy closes after six years in the EDGE District

July 31, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

After more than six years serving up tropical drinks and Florida-themed fare, No Vacancy has permanently closed in downtown St. Pete.

The Old Florida motel-inspired bar and restaurant at 937 Central Avenue announced its closure in a heartfelt social media post, marking the end of an era for one of the EDGE District’s most recognizable hangouts.

“After 6.5 unforgettable years, our everyday vacay comes to an end,” wrote owner Stephen Schrutt. “From the bottom of our hearts, Thank You, St. Pete! You stayed with us through it all. From the challenges of Covid, and the growth of our city. Thank you for being part of it, none of this was possible without our flock.”

No Vacancy opened in January 2019 in the former home of Kings Street Food Counter, another concept from Schrutt’s Hunger + Thirst Restaurant Group.

July 31, 2025

The Violet Stone’s new, larger location is officially open in St. Pete

July 31, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

St. Pete’s favorite Philly-style pizza joint, The Violet Stone, has officially opened in a much larger, more prominent location. So say goodbye to long lines, sold-out signs by noon, and eating pizza on the hood of your car.

The new restaurant, located at 2609 Dr. MLK Jr. Street North, debuted on Wednesday, and brings with it an expanded menu, upgraded kitchen, and seating for up to 100 guests, both indoors and out.

The Violet Stone has come a long way since it launched as a food truck in 2022. After outgrowing the truck, owner Daniel Fekete set up shop in a small 800-square-foot space in Kenwood.

That original space had no air conditioning and just a few chairs and tables. Now, the team is settling into a 2,100-square-foot spot that finally matches Fekete’s vision for the restaurant.

July 30, 2025

Former Tampa Bay Times printing plant to be redeveloped with apartments and townhomes in North Kenwood

July 30, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A major redevelopment is coming to North Kenwood, where the former Tampa Bay Times printing plant once buzzed with activity for over 60 years.

Dallas-based real estate firm Crow Holdings, founded in 1948 by legendary developer Trammell Crow, has filed plans to build a 392-unit garden-style apartment complex at 1301 34th Street North just south of Sam’s Club.

The plans, submitted on Monday to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, call for six four-story apartment buildings, a clubhouse, and 577 surface parking spaces.

The property went under contract on July 1st, according to CoStar.

Since all three parcels are zoned Industrial Suburban (IS), residential development would only be allowed through the Live Local Act or Section 17.5 of St. Petersburg’s land development regulations. Both options require that at least 40% of the residential units be set aside as affordable housing for households earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

July 28, 2025

New renderings revealed for Convivial St. Pete, a 170-unit retirement community coming to the Skyway Marina District

July 28, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Convivial St. Petersburg, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) planned for the city’s Skyway Marina District, has released its final architectural renderings.

The visuals offer the most detailed look yet at the design, amenities, and layout of the 170-unit senior living campus, which is expected to break ground in 2026.

The $172.5 million development is being led by Convivial Life, a Florida-based nonprofit organization that owns and operates senior living communities across the state.

The St. Petersburg campus will be located at 4595 34th Street South and marks a significant new entry into the local senior housing market.

The community will consist of two nine-story residential buildings, The Madison and The Lexington, connected by a skybridge with views of Boca Ciega Bay, downtown St. Pete, and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.