86 Wine Bar brings natural wines and vinyl vibes to St. Pete

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86 Wine Bar brings natural wines and vinyl vibes to St. Pete

Get ready to sip wine and spin records at 86 Wine Bar, a new intimate wine bar and lounge that has quietly opened at 2930 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North Unit #B.

The cozy, dimly lit 35-seat space blends a passion for natural wines, Mediterranean-style small plates, and eclectic vinyl in a minimalist setting that feels equal parts warm and worldly.

Located near newcomers The Violet Stone and Wildflower Ice Cream, and longtime MLK staples like Pineapple Espresso and Golden Isles Brewing Co., the bar takes over the former Doakes N Doodle Café, a cat-themed coffee shop that once occupied the spot.

Behind the concept are husband-and-wife duo Kendra Hardesty and Shane Richard Schuch, who live nearby in the Allendale neighborhood.

Hardesty, a seasoned chef most recently at Cafe Clementine, will lead the kitchen, while Schuch, whose career spans years in hospitality, handles the front of house.

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

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

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.

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Beau & Mo’s Italian Steakhouse in Historic Kenwood purchases neighboring property, announces new menu offerings

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Beau & Mo’s Italian Steakhouse in Historic Kenwood purchases neighboring property, announces new menu offerings

Finding a parking spot at one of St. Pete’s most popular steakhouses just got a lot easier, thanks to a major new investment by the restaurant’s owners.

In June, the owners of Beau & Mo’s Italian Steakhouse, located at 2924 5th Avenue North in Historic Kenwood, purchased the neighboring auto shop for $1 million.

The family-owned steakhouse has faced limited parking since it opened in 2015.

The acquisition adds over 30 parking spaces for the 125-seat restaurant, which itself only has 15 on-site spaces.

Guests frequently relied on street parking or overflow parking across the street at the nearby PPG Paint Store.

For now, there are no plans to repurpose the vacant auto shop.

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St. Pete's smallest wine bar launches new coffee concept in downtown St. Pete

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St. Pete's smallest wine bar launches new coffee concept in downtown St. Pete

The smallest wine bar in St. Pete is now also the tiniest coffee shop in town.

The 18-seat Bar Chinchilla recently expanded with the launch of Cafe ‘Chilla, a morning coffee bar tucked inside its intimate space at 439 1st Avenue North.

Cafe ‘Chilla offers a menu of espresso drinks, cold brew, matcha, and specialty lattes from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Bar Manager Lynsey Carlson shared with St. Pete Rising that the idea stemmed from a desire to create a separate cafe-like experience during the morning when the wine bar is typically closed.

“We wanted to offer something for the morning crowd, especially those attending farmers markets and local events,” Carlson said.

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