Wine bar and specialty grocer announced as first retail tenant for 46-story 400 Central in downtown St. Pete
/A representative rendering of the vision for Volta Wine + Market in downtown St. Pete | Volta
Downtown St. Pete’s tallest tower just landed its first retail tenant, marking a major milestone for the 46-story Residences at 400 Central set to open later this year.
Volta Wine + Market, an independent wine shop, specialty grocer, and boutique wine bar, is set to open in 2026 on the ground floor of the 301-unit condo tower being developed by New York-based Red Apple Group.
Wendy Giffin of Cushman & Wakefield represented Volta in the lease transaction.
The 2,000-square-foot storefront will be located mid-block on Central Avenue and marks the first retail tenant announced in the tower.
Volta is the creation of local residents Zach Pace and Rachelle Tomushev, who are bringing a curated but approachable food and wine experience to downtown St. Pete.
Pace brings deep industry experience to the venture, having started an online wine company which he later sold, as well as sommelier, wine importer, and beverage director at Michelin-starred restaurants Lazy Bear and Aphotic in San Francisco.
A representative rendering of the vision for Volta Wine + Market in downtown St. Pete | Volta
“Our goal is to be a destination for high-quality everyday staples, grocery items, and an extensive wine selection for not only downtown but the entire city,” said Pace in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.
Volta’s wine program will include around 250 SKUs, totaling about 2,000 bottles, and will also offer sake and craft beer.
While not exclusively organic or natural, all wines will be produced using classical techniques with minimal intervention and no unnecessary additives.
In the back of the shop, guests will find an intimate 5- to 10-seat wine bar where they can sample rotating selections.
“We want this to be affordable,” said Pace. “This is not a splurge place where you come in and you’re going to be forced to spend $100. We want this to be for everybody.”
The 46-story Residences at 400 Central is expected to begin welcoming residents by the end of the year | St Pete Rising
In addition to wine, Volta will offer specialty grocery items, emphasizing clean, high-quality ingredients. That means no fillers, no preservatives, and a minimal use of seed oils.
“We’re taking great care to source the best versions of everyday staples,” said Pace. “For example, a lot of tomatoes labeled as San Marzano are counterfeit. Real San Marzano DOP tomatoes can only be grown in a limited area of Naples, Italy, with strict rules about spacing and hand-picking. We work with importers who bring in the real deal.”
Volta will also carry single-vintage olive oils from Italy, Greece, and Morocco, along with specialty products like true Japanese wasabi, one of the most difficult commercial crops in the world, and rarely available in authentic form.
Additionally, they’ll stock local Florida caviar from Anastasia Gold, a high-end farm located about three hours east of St. Pete.
“It’s not necessarily about the price point — it’s about knowing what you’re buying is good, clean food made the right way,” said Pace.
Owners of Volta Wine + Market Zach Pace and Rachelle Tomushev | John Apsey
Red Apple Group founder John Catsimatidis praised the announcement. “We are excited to welcome Volta, an independent business founded by local residents, as our first announced commercial tenant. Their elevated wine and market offerings will be a staple of the building and a convenience for the residents of 400 Central and all of St. Petersburg.”
“Volta means a significant shift, something new, as well as a symbol of dynamism and energy. And that’s what we’re bringing to the building and to the thriving city,” said Pace.
With Volta Wine + Market, he and Tomushev aim to raise the standard for accessible, high-quality wine and food in downtown St. Pete, one honest ingredient at a time.
