May 05, 2026

120-bed skilled nursing and rehab facility to expand in Pinellas Park

May 05, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Gulf Shore Care Center, a comprehensive rehabilitation and nursing facility, is expanding its footprint in Pinellas Park.

The 120-bed center, spanning over 44,000 square feet at 6767 86th Avenue North, plans to add an adjoining 20,000-square-foot building with 77 new beds—allowing the facility to serve more residents in need of care.

As part of the expansion, at least 77 surface parking spaces would be added to the property for a total of 130 spaces.

The original center was built in 1997 with 60 beds. An addition 60 beds were added in 2007.

During a Pinellas Park City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 21st, Councilmembers unanimously approved a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and preliminary site plan approval for an expansion of the residential care facility.

May 04, 2026

Public Q&A offers clearer look at competing visions for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete

May 04, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Developers vying to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete made their first public pitch last Thursday at the Coliseum, as the City of St. Petersburg hosted an open house featuring presentations from the four shortlisted teams: ARK Ellison Horus, The Burg Bid, Foundation Vision Partners, and the Pinellas County Housing Authority.

Each group walked through its vision for the site before taking questions from attendees, offering a more direct look at how their proposals could take shape.

Much of what was presented has already been detailed in the teams’ formal submissions, which have been covered previously.

The more revealing portion of the event came during the Q&A, where developers addressed topics ranging from affordability and economic opportunity to phasing, infrastructure, and long-term community impact.

Mayor Ken Welch is expected to select one or more teams to move forward with in June, even as the St. Petersburg City Council recently voted 6-2 to pause the process.

The entire two hour event can be seen on YouTube. The City is requesting resident’s feedback on the presentations here.

Below is the Q&A session, which has been edited for clarity and length.

May 04, 2026

Shipley Do-Nuts to open first St. Pete shop on 4th Street North, replacing Starbucks

May 04, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Shipley Do-Nuts, a classic no-frills Texas donut shop known for fresh, handmade treats and kolaches, is coming to St. Pete.

The chain will open at 4946 4th Street North in a space formerly occupied by Starbucks, which closed in late 2025 as part of a nationwide initiative to shutter stores lacking drive-thrus.

Shipley’s offers more than 40 varieties of donuts alongside kolaches, a beloved Texas pastry made with fluffy, slightly sweet dough and stuffed with a variety of savory fillings.

Shipley’s donut menu centers on its classic glazed along with a wide range flavors like chocolate, strawberry, cherry, vanilla, and maple, as well as varieties paired with sprinkles, coconut, or nuts.

There are also a selection of filled donuts, with creams and fruit jellies, alongside denser cake donuts in flavors like buttermilk and blueberry.

Shipley also has donut holes, apple fritters, bear claws, and cinnamon rolls.

May 01, 2026

An intimate 45-seat speakeasy, 31 South, opens this weekend at St. Petersburg Distillery in the Warehouse Arts District

May 01, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

St. Petersburg Distillery is expanding into the evening hours with a new speakeasy inside its Warehouse Arts District campus.

Tucked inside the distillery’s industrial warehouse at 800 31st Street South, a secluded second-floor space has been reworked into an intimate, 45-seat speakeasy that opens today at 6 p.m.

“This is when people want to come together and socialize, from six o’clock to midnight,” CEO Evan Brownstein said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

The space, called 31 South, sits above the distillery’s production floor, where guests typically end their tours.

What was once a simple tasting area has been redesigned into a swanky lounge with dim mood lighting, vintage furnishings, a mix of gold and green accents, and jazz music playing overhead.

“The tours are all about educating our guests. We want this space to be where they can socialize and relax,” Brownstein said. “It’ll be a hidden gem within a hidden gem.”

The redesign was led by marketing coordinator Meridian Joy-Piper and VP of Operations Kylie Judge, who sourced much of the furniture and decor locally and incorporated historic photos throughout the space.

April 29, 2026

Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters to open cafe and roastery in the Grand Central District this summer

April 29, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Local coffee company Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters is preparing to move into its first standalone café and production space in the Grand Central District.

For the past two years, Sun Bear has operated out of Sans Market, a zero-waste store at 1037 Central Avenue in the EDGE District.

That setup helped owner Kenny Beers build a loyal following, but space constraints have limited what he could offer.

This summer, Sun Bear will relocate to a larger, permanent storefront and roasting facility at 1942 1st Avenue South, next to Pinellas Ale Works.

The 2,650-square-foot building was previously home to Adieu-glu, a gluten-free bakery.

April 29, 2026

St. Pete eyes $600 million resiliency bond to tackle flooding and harden city infrastructure

April 29, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Heavy rainfall and storm surge have exposed serious vulnerabilities in St. Pete's aging infrastructure over the years, and the city is now asking whether a $600 million bond is the right tool to fix it faster.

Last Thursday, the City's Budget, Finance, and Taxation Committee discussed placing a General Obligation (GO) bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot.

The proceeds would fund a portion of projects under the St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) program, a city-led initiative to accelerate flood protection, stormwater improvements, and utility system hardening before the next major storm arrives.

The $2.7 billion SPAR program, which will be set up regardless of a potential November referendum, will be funded through utility fees.

Without the bond, that work gets spread over 24 years through fiscal year 2050 as utility revenue accumulates.

April 27, 2026

New Tampa Bay Ferry plan calls for two boats, $10 fares, and daily service

April 27, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is preparing to take a major step toward bringing ferry service back to Tampa Bay, with its board set to vote Wednesday on a plan to purchase two vessels and launch the new Tampa Bay Ferry later this year.

At a press event Monday morning at Tampa Convention Center, officials from PSTA, alongside leaders from Tampa and St. Petersburg and ferry operator Hubbard’s Marina, outlined how the service could operate with two boats running seven days a week.

Since selecting Madeira Beach-based Hubbard’s Marina as the new operator for the ferry service late last year, PSTA and Hubbard’s Marina have collaboratively spearheaded a nationwide search for potential vessels.

“We’re committed to creating this service the right way, so it’s sustainable for the long term,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller.

The purchase and renovation of the two vessels will be funded by a $4.8 million federal grant originally awarded in 2021.

April 24, 2026

$165 million redevelopment of downtown St. Pete marina moves ahead with city in charge

April 24, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

The City of St. Petersburg is stepping in to lead the long-awaited redevelopment of the century-old, 640-slip municipal marina along the downtown waterfront just south of the St. Pete Pier.

The redevelopment is a large, multi-phased project focused on rebuilding aging infrastructure, improving operations, and opening up more of the waterfront to the public.

City staff are currently negotiating a contract for pre-construction services with a team led by Skanska and Cummins Cederberg.

The city has worked with both firms before, partnering with Skanska on the St. Pete Pier and with Cummins Cederberg on the Citywide Seawall Master Plan.

The team responded to a city-issued request for qualifications in late 2025, shortly after the city ended negotiations with Safe Harbor Marinas, which had previously been selected to take on the project.

Under the revised approach, the city will retain full ownership and control of the marina, rather than leasing it out.

April 22, 2026

New women’s boutique The Carpenter’s Daughter to open on Central Avenue next month

April 22, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

A new women’s boutique is set to open on Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

The Carpenter’s Daughter is expected to open in early May at 1624 Central Avenue, taking over a roughly 900-square-foot space previously occupied by Bohemian Reves.

The shop will sit alongside a growing cluster of new businesses on the block, including The Blue Urban Project Thrift and Gypsea Blooms.

“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to open a store in St. Pete for the past five years, and for it to be on Central Avenue is a dream come true,” owner Ursula Gonzalez said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

The St. Pete store will focus on women’s clothing and accessories, with a mix of casual and occasion-ready pieces such as dresses, rompers, blouses, and everyday wear.

The shop will also include handbags, shoes, jewelry, self-care items, and designer-inspired perfumes.

April 21, 2026

Gypsea Blooms, a build-your-own bouquet bar and gift shop, is coming to Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete

April 21, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

A new boutique centered around custom floral arrangements and curated gifting is preparing to open in the Grand Central District.

Gypsea Blooms, founded by Andrea Harper, will open next month at 1622 Central Avenue, in a roughly 900-square-foot space next to the soon-to-open Blue Urban Project Thrift.

“We are so excited to be part of this community and have a space on Central Avenue,” Nicole Gebler, lead florist and store manager, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We’re excited to bring this concept here and give people a thoughtful way to create something special.”

A big part of the shop will be a build-your-own bouquet bar, where customers can select individual stems and assemble their own arrangements.

The store will also offer pre-arranged bouquets across a range of price points, along with single-stem options and dried floral pieces.

In addition to flowers, the coastal-inspired Gypsea Blooms is designed as a one-stop shop for gifting.

News