December 31, 2025

Historically St. Pete: The remarkable history of the 100-year-old Vinoy Hotel that nearly never was

December 31, 2025/ Rui Farias

At St. Pete Rising, we are constantly providing comprehensive coverage on everything new and coming soon to the Sunshine City, but we think it’s also important to take a look back at our city's rich history.

Historically St. Pete, a monthly column on St. Pete Rising written by Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History Rui Farias, covers everything from the legend of underground mobster tunnels to the buildings and people that created the Sunshine City.

This month we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of The Vinoy, which debuted on New Year’s Eve 1925. What began with a party, a bet, and a game of golf became a 375-room hotel completed in just under 10 months.

December 31, 2025

St. Pete Rising’s top stories of 2025 captured a changing city navigating growth and nostalgia

December 31, 2025/ Brian Zucker

In 2025, St. Petersburg gave us plenty to talk about and, judging by the clicks, you were paying close attention.

From splashy redevelopment proposals and high-stakes Rays drama to beloved dive bars, beachfront icons, and even a dinosaur perched above downtown, readers gravitated toward stories that captured a city changing in real time.

The most-read articles of the year were not just about shiny renderings or breaking news. They focused on the follow-up questions, the fine print, and how big ideas actually play out on the ground.

Whether tracking the future of the Tropicana Field site, examining housing policy shifts, or following the next chapter of long-standing local institutions, these stories reflected the curiosity and healthy skepticism of St. Pete Rising readers.

Below are the 10 most-read St. Pete Rising articles of 2025.

December 30, 2025

A 75-year-old church in St. Pete’s Euclid St. Paul’s neighborhood will be converted into apartments

December 30, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

After decades of Sunday services, a 75-year-old church on the southern edge of the Euclid St. Paul’s neighborhood is preparing to take on a new role in the neighborhood by becoming housing for local residents.

The former Pinellas Vietnamese Church of the Nazarene, located at 1225 9th Avenue North, will be adaptively reused into 20 workforce housing apartments.

The project is being led by local property owners and real estate investors Joshua and Danielle Neitz, who purchased the church and its adjacent parking lot for $1.325 million in February.

“My wife was a teacher for many years, and all of our friends were middle-class people trying to earn a living and stay in the area,” Joshua Neitz said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We need more options to make life a little more affordable for residents.”

In October, the church was added to the St. Petersburg Register of Historic Places, protecting the building from demolition while allowing for adaptive reuse under the city’s code.

December 29, 2025

Vietnamese coffee shop Say Coffee House planned for the Grand Central District

December 29, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Known for TikTok-worthy slow-dripped brews topped with colorful cold foams and inventive add-ins, Vietnamese coffee shops have been popping up in major U.S. cities like New York, Portland, and Los Angeles.

Now, it’s St. Pete’s turn.

Last week, a banner appeared in the window of 2414 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District announcing Say Coffee House, set to open in March in the space formerly occupied by the Crisp Waffle Company.

The name “Say” translates to “obsessed” in Vietnamese.

“It means you drink it so much that you’re obsessed with it,” said owner Haley Huynh in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “That’s why we chose the name.”

Vietnamese coffee is traditionally brewed using a small metal drip filter called a phin, producing a bold, slow-dripped coffee.

December 29, 2025

619-unit Alton Skyway apartment community planned for SPC’s Allstate Campus in the Skyway Marina District

December 29, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

For the first time, detailed plans have been filed showing what will replace St. Petersburg College’s former Allstate Campus in the Skyway Marina District.

Delray Beach–based Kolter Multifamily has submitted a site plan review application to the City of St. Pete for Alton Skyway, a luxury garden-style apartment development proposed for the 17.25-acre property at 3200 34th Street South.

The plans call for 619 apartments across eight five-story buildings and neighborhood-scale retail.

According to the application, which is scheduled to be reviewed by the city’s Development Review Commission in February, Alton Skyway would be constructed in two phases.

Phase one would deliver 342 apartments across four buildings on the southern half of the site, along with 484 parking spaces.

Phase two would add the remaining 277 units in four additional buildings and 399 parking spaces.

December 24, 2025

St. Pete approves additional funding for $33 million Shore Acres flood mitigation project

December 24, 2025/ Anthony Close

The City of St. Petersburg is adding another $1 million to its Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project, a major infrastructure effort aimed at reducing severe flooding in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.

City Council approved the funding on December 11th through a grant agreement between the City and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

The project will upgrade stormwater infrastructure along approximately 10 miles of roadway near Connecticut Avenue, the lowest and most flood prone area of Shore Acres.

The project now carries an estimated total cost of $33 million. About $7.9 million is funded through an FDEP grant awarded in 2023, with an additional $1 million provided through a separate FDEP grant. The City of St. Petersburg will fund the remaining cost.

During Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, more than 80% of homes in Shore Acres flooded.

While much of the damage was caused by storm surge, the neighborhood also regularly floods during high tide and heavy rainfall, even without major storms.

City officials say the project is necessary because Shore Acres sits just one to two feet above mean sea level, limiting the effectiveness of traditional gravity based stormwater systems.

December 23, 2025

Three-story Mad Beach Inn proposed for Gulf Boulevard in Madeira Beach

December 23, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A flood-damaged retail building is set to be demolished, making way for a new three-story mixed-use boutique hotel in Madeira Beach.

The existing one-story structure at 15227 Gulf Boulevard, vacant since sustaining severe damage during Hurricane Helene in 2024, is slated for demolition in the coming weeks.

In its place, developers plan to construct Mad Beach Inn, a Key West–inspired boutique hotel featuring 11 guest rooms and a ground-floor café, Perky Bean Cafe.

The project will provide at least 11 on-site parking spaces, meeting city requirements.

The 0.22-acre site sits just behind a shopping plaza formerly anchored by a Winn-Dixie, which is being redeveloped into an Aldi, and a short walk from Archibald Beach Park.

Construction is expected to begin early next year, with completion targeted for summer 2027.

December 22, 2025

Cali Coffee plans first St. Pete location at former Checkers on 66th Street North

December 22, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A former Checkers restaurant on 66th Street in St. Pete is being redeveloped into a new drive-through coffee shop.

Cali Coffee, a growing South Florida-based coffee franchise, is expected to open at 3775 66th Street North, adjacent to the HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital campus.

Plans call for remodeling the existing 825-square-foot building into a compact coffee shop featuring a single drive-thru lane and a walk-up window. There will be no indoor seating, though other locations typically include outdoor seating.

The brand leans heavily into West Coast aesthetics, even in its drink names.

Signature offerings include the Beverly, which features caramel and vanilla syrup; the Baywatch, which includes coconut and white chocolate syrup; and the Nirvana, which has chocolate and hazelnut syrup.

December 19, 2025

After years of controversy, Tubular Tokes has been sold and will rebrand as Hits & Munchies in the Grand Central District

December 19, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

New faces will soon greet customers at the space formerly known as Tubular Tokes in the Grand Central District.

Earlier this week, the 1980s-themed vape and smoke shop at 2428 Central Avenue officially changed ownership and will rebrand as Hits & Munchies.

While Tubular Tokes was known for its eclectic interior and wide selection of vapes, CBD, kratom, and novelty snacks, much of the attention surrounding the shop centered on its owner, Skylar Strickland.

Strickland, who remains a polarizing figure in the neighborhood, has had a rough and very public past, including two arrests and frequent confrontations that played out both inside and outside the business.

Over time, some nearby residents and would-be customers said they liked the concept and wanted to support a locally owned shop, but ultimately chose not to patronize Tubular Tokes because of the owner himself.

December 19, 2025

Central Avenue makeover would prioritize pedestrians over parking in downtown St. Pete

December 19, 2025/ Anthony Close

One of downtown St. Petersburg’s busiest nightlife blocks could soon look very different, with fewer cars and more room for people.

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, working with planning and design firm Kimley-Horn, has unveiled a new streetscape concept for the 200 block of Central Avenue, home to popular nightlife spots like The Mandarin Hide and Mastry’s, as well as the 200 Central office tower and the newly completed Art House condo tower.

The idea is to trade curbside parking for wider sidewalks, outdoor seating, and a more pedestrian-friendly feel.

While much of the plan remains conceptual, part of it is already in place.