May 28, 2026

Nightwatch, a neighborhood wine bar, is coming to the Grand Central District

May 28, 2026/ Brian Zucker

A new neighborhood wine bar is coming to the Grand Central District, with an expansive wine list, a large backyard patio, and a casual, laidback vibe.

Nightwatch is expected to open before the end of the year at 2817 Central Avenue.

The concept comes from Bryce Kennedy and Sydney Knowlton, the owners behind Neighborhood Wine Shop, which recently celebrated its first anniversary a few doors down at 2875 Central Avenue.

The 1,200-square-foot bar will offer a large wine selection, with roughly 250 to 300 labels planned for the bottle list, alongside around 20 to 25 wines by the glass at any given time.

Beer, non-alcoholic cocktails, and low-ABV cocktails will also be available.

“The focus will be on wines in the $70 to $120 range,” Kennedy said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “That’ll make up the bulk of the menu. That being said, if you want to come in and order an expensive Burgundy or old Bordeaux, we’ll have that too. It just won’t be the focus.”

The food menu will stay simple with cheeses, charcuterie, and bar bites offered.

May 27, 2026

New I-275 express lanes and shared-use path open on Howard Frankland Bridge

May 27, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Motorists now have a quicker way to travel between St. Pete and Tampa.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 27th, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) opened the new northbound I-275 express lanes on the Howard Frankland Bridge, along with a new pedestrian and bicycle trail.

The express lanes and trail are major components of the $972.5 million bridge replacement and improvement project, which began in 2020.

The new express lanes extend from 4th Street North in St. Petersburg to just north of the bridge in Tampa.

Running in the median of I-275, the lanes are separated from general traffic by barrier walls and flexible delineator poles.

FDOT contractors are expected to open the southbound express lanes over the next several nights, weather permitting.

The express lanes are currently toll-free during the ongoing testing phase. Once testing is complete, tolls will be collected electronically 24/7 through SunPass or other Florida-compatible transponders. Cash and TOLL-BY-PLATE will not be accepted.

May 27, 2026

New social-fitness gym The Yard Gym opening this summer in the Grand Central District

May 27, 2026/ Kyla Fields

A new social-fitness gym is preparing to open in the Grand Central District.

The Yard Gym, a fitness club focused on strength training, conditioning, and team-based fitness classes, will open next month at 2060 1st Avenue South in the former Grayspeed Cycles space.

The St. Pete franchise is owned by local resident Taylor Dove, who says the gym is targeting a grand opening on Saturday, June 13th.

The 3,264-square-foot facility will include two air-conditioned workout spaces dedicated to The Yard’s signature training programs.

One area, called RIG, focuses on strength training with barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance equipment, while the other area, called TURF, is geared toward conditioning workouts using sleds, cardio equipment, bodyweight exercises, and functional training movements.

The gym will also offers PAYDAY and GAMEDAY classes, which blend strength and conditioning with team-oriented and competitive workouts.

May 26, 2026

Aerial St. Pete: Drone photos show major developments rising across St. Pete

May 26, 2026/ Brian Zucker

This quarter’s edition of Aerial St. Pete shows the progress of seven developments currently under construction in St. Pete.

With the help of AB3 Visuals, , we captured the progress on a new 33-story luxury apartment tower coming to downtown, two affordable housing communities under construction (one near Mazzaro's Italian Market and the other in the Warehouse Arts District), an apartment project rising next to the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA in the Grand Central District, a massive apartment community coming to the Skyway Marina District, a waterfront apartment development under construction in north St. Pete, and a 50-room luxury hotel rising on the beach.

St. Pete Rising looks forward to keeping you informed on St. Pete’s development scene, and we’ll continue tracking these projects as they near completion.

May 26, 2026

Italian sandwich shop Mozza opening this summer on MLK in St. Pete

May 26, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

A new Italian paninoteca is preparing to open on MLK in Crescent Heights.

Mozza will debut this summer, offering artisan sandwiches, fresh-stretched mozzarella, wine, and imported Italian goods in the former Little Llamas Boutique space at 2319 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North.

The concept comes from local cheesemaker Michael Deininger, better known as “Mozzarella Mike,” a St. Pete native who began hosting pop-ups and catering events last April centered around his freshly made mozzarella.

Since launching, Mozzarella Mike has collaborated with a handful of local businesses including 86 Wine Bar, Golden Isles Brewing, Stew’s House of Bagels, Cipolla Rossa Pizzeria, and Cellarmasters (RIP).

“We realized people really connected with what we were doing,” Deininger said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “The feedback on the sandwiches has been incredible for a while now, so we wanted to expand all that and do something special.”

May 21, 2026

New district markers are a sign of Grand Central District’s growing identity

May 21, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

New district markers now welcome residents and visitors to the Grand Central District, a neighborhood that has steadily grown into one of the Sunshine City’s most active, walkable neighborhoods.

One of the metal sculptures now stands at the intersection of Central Avenue and 16th Street in front of the Arte apartment complex.

Created by international artist Volkan Alkanoglu, the towering piece resembles a bird’s plumage.

A second structure, designed to resemble a palm tree, was installed next to the Vantage St. Pete apartments at 1st Avenue North and 16th Street.

“These were designed to reflect the artistic vibes and progressive feel that define the Grand Central District,” District Director Chris Arnold said during a Tuesday ribbon cutting.

The installations mark the culmination of a five-year effort by the Grand Central District Association, which reviewed more than 100 submissions from artists across the country before selecting the final designs.

May 21, 2026

Popular bagel chain Jeff’s Bagel Run opening Feather Sound location near Carillon Office Park

May 21, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

A growing Central Florida bagel franchise is continuing its expansion across Tampa Bay with a new location planned for the Feather Sound area.

Jeff’s Bagel R un will open at 2325 Ulmerton Road #1 in the Feather Sound Square retail plaza across from the Carillon Office Park, replacing an OB/GYN office, according to plans submitted to the City of St. Pete.

Local franchisee Tony Trunzo plans to renovate the 1,320-square-foot storefront into a bagel shop with limited indoor seating.

The concept has built a following around its boiled-and-baked bagels, which are made on-site throughout the day using a five-ingredient recipe of flour, water, salt, malt, and yeast.

What helps set Jeff’s Bagel Run apart from its competition is its rotating lineup of unique bagel and cream cheese flavors that go beyond the traditional options.

The shop still serves classic New York-style staples like plain, everything, sesame, asiago, cinnamon raisin, and blueberry bagels, but also offers more creative offerings like Cacio e Pepe, Lemon Blueberry, Pepperjack Everything, Cinnamon Roll, and Lemon Poppy.

May 20, 2026

New paint-and-sip studio Sunshine City Paint opening in the EDGE District

May 20, 2026/ Kyla Fields

A new, family-friendly art experience is headed to the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete.

Sunshine City Paint, a paint-and-sip lounge and art studio, will open this summer at 909 Central Avenue in the former Expedia Cruises space, between the now-closed Buya ramen bar and new pasta to-go concept Fusillo.

Owner Julie Gioscio tells St. Pete Rising that the business is targeting a soft opening in early June.

The studio will offer paint-and-sip sessions where customers can create artwork while enjoying beer or wine, along with instructor-guided painting classes and other art-focused events.

“I’ve been really passionate about art since I was young, and this opportunity feels full circle because the first career I ever wanted, even at five years old, was to be an artist,” Gioscio says. “The studio will provide easy and affordable indoor activities that will help build community.”

“It’s definitely about the fun of it. We’re not making fine art here,” she adds.

May 19, 2026

After 2024 crane collapse, St. Pete revisits tower crane safety ahead of hurricane season

May 19, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Crane safety returned to the spotlight at last Thursday’s Public Service and Infrastructure Committee meeting, as St. Petersburg officials reviewed new preparedness measures and ongoing recommendations ahead of the start of hurricane season on June 1st.

The discussion stems from one of the most visible moments of storm damage in downtown St. Pete history, when high winds from Hurricane Milton caused a 500-foot-tall crane attached to the 46-story Residences at 400 Central tower to fall and crash into the five-story Tampa Bay Times building at 490 1st Avenue South.

The crane collapse ripped through the upper floors of the office building, allowing rainwater to pour into the building and triggering the emergency sprinkler system.

Additionally, portions of the crane and scattered debris were strewn across 1st Avenue South.

Fortunately, the building was vacant and no injuries were reported. However, the incident forced several tenants, including the Tampa Bay Times, to relocate.

More than a year and a half later, the building remains unusable and is now being marketed for sale as a redevelopment site.

May 19, 2026

BankUnited to open St. Pete branch on Central Avenue in the EDGE District's oldest building

May 19, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

BankUnited, a regional bank headquartered in Miami Lakes, is opening a new branch at 900 Central Avenue, on the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North in downtown St. Pete. The bank will occupy 2,700 square feet on the first floor of the building.

Built in 1918 as the Western Hotel, and renamed the St. Petersburg Hotel two years later, the three-story brick structure is the EDGE District's oldest building.

Over more than a century, the building has housed a post office sub-station, a drug store, a grocer, and a string of other businesses. The first-floor space BankUnited will occupy was most recently home to an Anytime Fitness location, which closed in late 2022.