Sanctum Apothecary debuts coffee, tea, and herbal elixir bar in St. Pete

Sanctum Apothecary debuts coffee, tea, and herbal elixir bar in St. Pete

The sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee and tea now fills the sacred space of Sanctum Apothecary, a family-owned herbal wellness shop in St. Pete’s Euclid-St. Paul neighborhood that focuses on healing the mind, body, and spirit.

Since opening in 2022 at 1903 12th Street North, Sanctum Apothecary has become known for its herbal remedies and handcrafted products. The shop has now quietly added a tea, coffee, and herbal elixir bar to complement its existing offerings.

“It can be intimidating to walk into our shop without knowledge of herbal benefits,” said co-owner and energy herbalist Adam Hubbard in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “This new bar invites people to grab a seat and let us prepare the right blend for them, whether it’s to help cool or warm their body or calm their mind.”

Read More

First Look at St. Pete Athletic: The massive 45,000-square-foot sports and social club coming to St. Pete

First Look at St. Pete Athletic: The massive 45,000-square-foot sports and social club coming to St. Pete

A 45,000-square-foot industrial space tucked in St. Pete's Warehouse Arts District will become a massive urban country club featuring 14 pickleball courts, a private social club, bars, and much more.

Construction workers are actively building the new bougie paddle sports club dubbed the St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social, located at 680 28th Street South inside The Factory, a 90,000-square-foot arts and culture hub situated on the Pinellas Trail.

The club, as first reported in 2024, is slated to open later this year to both members and the public. It will occupy 30,000 square feet of existing space on the west side of The Factory property and 15,000 square feet in a new building to accommodate more pickleball courts.

Read More

Local herbal school to serve teas, tonics, and coffee at half-acre garden oasis in west St. Pete

Local herbal school to serve teas, tonics, and coffee at half-acre garden oasis in west St. Pete

A once dusty, fenced-in daycare yard in west St. Pete has been transformed into an herbal garden oasis, now featuring a unique coffee and tea cart that serves drinks with a healing twist.

The half-acre garden, which features a walking path winding through hundreds of medicinal and edible plants, sits behind the Traditions School of Herbal Studies and its sister company Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies at 6340 Central Avenue.

“I want the outdoor teaching garden to be a place where people can gather to sip tea, meditate, converse, and relax,” said founder Bob Linde in a discussion with St. Pete Rising.

Founded by Linde in 2005, Traditions offers acupuncture treatments and education on plant medicine, and houses the largest apothecary in the Southeast with over 2,000 Western and Chinese herbs used to treat everything from simple headaches to more serious ailments, including cancer.

Read More

Mediterranean cafe and wine bar Ruya to open in the Grand Central District this summer

Mediterranean cafe and wine bar Ruya to open in the Grand Central District this summer

A new café and wine bar designed to evoke the laid-back spirit of Morocco, where people sip beverages and socialize throughout the day, is coming to downtown St. Petersburg.

The café, called Ruya (from the Arabic word ru’yah, meaning “vision” or “dream”), will serve coffee, tea, beer, wine, and Moroccan pastries when it opens this summer at 2200 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District.

The space previously housed If I Brewed the World, a microbrewery that closed on March 8.

“It’ll feel like you’re leaving St. Pete for the Mediterranean, but you’re never really leaving,” owner Sarah Aitcadi told St. Pete Rising.

Read More