Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters to open cafe and roastery in the Grand Central District this summer

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Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters to open cafe and roastery in the Grand Central District this summer

Local coffee company Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters is preparing to move into its first standalone café and production space in the Grand Central District.

For the past two years, Sun Bear has operated out of Sans Market, a zero-waste store at 1037 Central Avenue in the EDGE District.

That setup helped owner Kenny Beers build a loyal following, but space constraints have limited what he could offer.

This summer, Sun Bear will relocate to a larger, permanent storefront and roasting facility at 1942 1st Avenue South, next to Pinellas Ale Works.

The 2,650-square-foot building was previously home to Adieu-glu, a gluten-free bakery.

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St. Pete eyes $600 million resiliency bond to tackle flooding and harden city infrastructure

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St. Pete eyes $600 million resiliency bond to tackle flooding and harden city infrastructure

Heavy rainfall and storm surge have exposed serious vulnerabilities in St. Pete's aging infrastructure over the years, and the city is now asking whether a $600 million bond is the right tool to fix it faster.

Last Thursday, the City's Budget, Finance, and Taxation Committee discussed placing a General Obligation (GO) bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot.

The proceeds would fund a portion of projects under the St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) program, a city-led initiative to accelerate flood protection, stormwater improvements, and utility system hardening before the next major storm arrives.

The $2.7 billion SPAR program, which will be set up regardless of a potential November referendum, will be funded through utility fees.

Without the bond, that work gets spread over 24 years through fiscal year 2050 as utility revenue accumulates.

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Five affordable homes proposed for city-owned land on 18th Avenue South

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Five affordable homes proposed for city-owned land on 18th Avenue South

An unsolicited proposal submitted to the City of St. Pete could bring a small cluster of permanently affordable homes to a vacant site in south St. Pete.

Bright Community Trust is requesting the donation of four city-owned parcels at 2013 18th Avenue South, where it plans to develop five cottage-style homes targeted to income-restricted buyers.

Each home would include two bedrooms, one bathroom, and roughly 900 square feet of living space.

Plans also call for a shared green space, nine parking spaces, and individual lot configurations that would allow each home to function as its own property.

The city’s willingness to consider the unsolicited proposal has triggered a formal Notice of Intent to Dispose of City-Owned Real Estate, which was published to the city’s website last week.

That notice opens the door for other developers or nonprofits to submit competing proposals for the property.

Interested parties have until Friday, May 22nd at 12 p.m. to submit an alternative proposal for the lease, purchase, or development of the site.

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Construction begins on The Cade, a seven-story boutique condo building overlooking Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

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Construction begins on The Cade, a seven-story boutique condo building overlooking Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

Construction is underway on a new boutique condo building overlooking Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete.

St. Pete-based Backstreets Capital has officially broken ground on The Cade, a seven-story residential project planned for 749 Burlington Avenue North featuring just 15 luxury residences overlooking the historic lake.

The project has seen strong early sales demand, with 40% of residences already under contract since sales launched two months ago.

“The response to The Cade has validated what we set out to create,” said Will Conroy, President of Backstreets Capital. “With construction now underway and nearly half the residences already spoken for, it’s clear there is strong demand for a more refined, residential experience in our downtown.”

“The Cade is perfect for people who want the privacy, space, and character of a custom home, paired with an irreplaceable lakefront location,” Conroy added.

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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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