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

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

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.

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Magnolia Soap and Bath Company coming to the 600 block in downtown St. Pete

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Magnolia Soap and Bath Company coming to the 600 block in downtown St. Pete

A new shop specializing in handmade bath, body, and home products is preparing to open along Central Avenue.

Magnolia Soap and Bath Company will debut this Friday May 1st at 655 Central Avenue.

The 1,400-square-foot storefront takes over the former Three Dog Bakery space, which closed last month.

Inside, Magnolia offers a wide range of products made in house without preservatives.

The lineup includes soaps, sugar scrubs, body butters, bath bombs, shower oils, perfumes, and soy candles, along with one of its most popular items, a customizable laundry wash made from just a few ingredients.

Jennifer Shankle, a Palm Harbor resident originally from Maryland, is behind the new location.

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St. Pete Athletic debuts 20,000-square-foot expansion with padel courts, more pickleball

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St. Pete Athletic debuts 20,000-square-foot expansion with padel courts, more pickleball

A new racquet sport is landing in St. Pete, and it’s bringing a global following with it.

Padel, currently the fastest growing sport in the word, can now be played locally at St. Pete Athletic, located at 680 28th Street South in the Warehouse Arts District.

The addition is part of a nearly 20,000-square-foot expansion of the facility, which opened in December.

The 50,000-square-foot club now features 14 pickleball courts, six professional table tennis tables, and its newly added padel courts.

St. Pete Athletic also offers several on-site food and drink options through Rose’s Dining & Drinks, where both members and non-members can stop in for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, and cocktails.

Padel originated in Mexico in the 1960s and blends elements of tennis and squash. The sport is played on an enclosed court, slightly larger than a pickleball court, where players can use the surrounding walls as part of the game.

It has been popular in countries like Spain and Argentina since the 1980s and its presence in the United States has been steadily expanding in recent years.

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

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

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.

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Asian grocery store to open in Grand Central District by owners of Pin on Grand

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Asian grocery store to open in Grand Central District by owners of Pin on Grand

An Asian grocery store is coming to the Grand Central District.

Pin Family Mart is preparing to open at 2452 Central Avenue, just a few doors down from Pin on Grand, the Asian fusion restaurant owned by husband-and-wife duo Som and Roger Rattanachane at 2458 Central Avenue.

The market will take over the former Lightwave Quantum Wellness space and is targeting a July debut, pending product shipments from Asia.

It will carry items from Thailand, Japan, Korea, Laos, China, and Vietnam.

The concept is led by Som alongside her cousin, Natchaya “Phim” Kraiboot, and their parents, who are expected to move to St. Pete from Thailand to help operate the store.

“Our goal is to create a premium destination for authentic Asian products imported to the U.S., combined with some locally sourced items as well,” Som said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

Pin Family Mart builds on the success of Pin on Grand, which opened in 2024 after relocating from the EDGE District.

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The Pirate Candy Shop to bring viral Swedish candy to downtown St. Pete

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The Pirate Candy Shop to bring viral Swedish candy to downtown St. Pete

A fast-growing candy trend that’s been flooding social media feeds is about to land in downtown St. Pete.

The Pirate Candy Shop is set to open its first Pinellas County location this June at 1614 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

The candy shop is taking over a roughly 850-square-foot storefront previously occupied by Tabatha Exquisite Touch Beauty Salon, which operated there for more than 15 years before relocating down the street to 1592 Central Avenue.

The concept comes from husband-and-wife team Adam and Sol Lillhannus, who operate The Pirate Candy Shop in Tampa’s Hyde Park Village.

“We actually ship a lot of candy to St. Pete specifically, so we know we have customers there,” Adam Lillhannus said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We looked at Clearwater, Largo, and Dunedin, but ultimately decided St. Pete was the right fit.”

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

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

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.

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Amorino Gelato sets opening date for EDGE District debut

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Amorino Gelato sets opening date for EDGE District debut

A new gelato shop is set to open in St. Pete’s EDGE District next week.

Amorino, a French gelato brand with locations around the world, will celebrate the grand opening of its first Florida storefront at 1246 Central Avenue on Friday, May 1st.

The shop’s entrance is located along 1st Avenue South, and Amorino will share the building with Bosphorus Turkish Cuisine, which recently opened along Central Avenue.

Grand opening festivities will take place Saturday, May 2nd from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with games and promotional giveaways planned throughout the afternoon.

“We are excited to open our first Florida gelato shop in St. Petersburg…Amorino Gelato is one of the most recognizable artisanal gelato brands in Europe,” said local franchisee Germán Rodríguez Daza in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

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

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

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.

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Public to weigh in on top four Gas Plant District redevelopment proposals at open house later this month

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Public to weigh in on top four Gas Plant District redevelopment proposals at open house later this month

Later this month, residents will have a chance to take a closer look at proposals that could shape the future of the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Petersburg.

The site is currently home to a swath of surface parking lots and Tropicana Field, where the Tampa Bay Rays have played since 1998.

The City of St. Petersburg is hosting a public open house on Thursday, April 30th, where four shortlisted development teams will present their plans and answer questions from the community.

The event will take place at The Coliseum, located at 535 4th Avenue North, beginning at 5 p.m.

The open house will give attendees an opportunity to meet the developers, review proposal materials, and ask questions ahead of formal presentations, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

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