Downtown Developments

Par Bar is now open at 2253 1st Ave S

Residences at 400 Central has broken ground

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising

It seems like each time we take a stroll through downtown there are new restaurants and galleries opening and more apartment complexes and condo towers being built. We realize it’s difficult to keep track of everything. Luckily, we’ve done the research, so you don’t have to. Each month we will feature a few of the most exciting new downtown developments that are on the horizon for the Sunshine City.

Par Bar, a mini-golf themed bar, is now open at 2253 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District. The bar has ten taps filled with a mix of local craft beer, sake, and wine-based cocktails. After grabbing a drink at the bar, start making your way to hole 1! Other activities include ping pong, cornhole, jumbo beer pong, and Golden Tee. And if you get hungry, Nueva Cantina operates a permanent food truck on site.

The Exchange Hotel is coming soon to 234 3rd Avenue North in downtown St. Pete. Formerly home to Hotel Indigo, The Exchange Hotel is currently undergoing a complete renovation to update and modernize the building. In addition, a restaurant and bar by Jeff Gigante’s Next Level Brands is planned for the ground floor. The new hotel plans to soft open before the end of the year.

A 41-story condo tower has been proposed for 200 Central Avenue. Kolter Group, the developers behind ONE St. Petersburg and Saltaire, are planning to build another tower that will include 248 residential units, parking, and ground floor retail. Construction is not expected until late next year and will likely take 24-36 months to complete. The property is currently a surface parking lot.

Residences at 400 Central has broken ground in downtown St. Pete. The 46-story tower will house 301 residential units, over 35,000 square feet of private amenities, and over 65,000 square feet of ground level retail and office space. Residents at the $400 million tower will have access to 24/7 concierge services, a resort-style heated pool and spa, an entertainment area with bocce courts and fire pits, an outdoor dining space with barbecue grills, a dog walking area, and a putting garden. Once complete, 400 Central will be the tallest residential tower on Florida’s Gulf Coast. 400 Central is expected to be complete by early 2025.

The Wet Spot Pool Bar is coming soon to 2355 Central Avenue

The Wet Spot Pool Bar is coming soon to 2355 Central Avenue at the historic Mari-Jean Hotel in the Grand Central District. The new watering hole will be operated by David Fischer, who also owns two other bars on the property – Cocktail, St. Pete’s newest gay bar, and The Saint, a sinful speakeasy. St. Pete’s newest pool bar will feature frozen drinks and a full menu of food served poolside. Weekly events will bring DJs, musical acts, and drag shows to the pool’s outdoor pergola stage. Construction has commenced and should take around nine months, just in time for St. Pete Pride in June.

The Cordova Inn is expanding at 253 2nd Ave N

The Cordova Inn is planning a major expansion in downtown St. Pete. Located at 253 2nd Avenue North, the historic hotel will be adding 62 rooms (for a total of 94 rooms), a restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a pool. While the expansion is expected to upgrade the hotel, the mission of delivering an intimate boutique experience at an affordable rate will stay the same. The owners expect to obtain the necessary approvals over the next few months before beginning construction by the end of the year. The expanded Cordova Inn is expected to open in 2023.

St. Pete Rising is an urban development blog covering future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Stay up-todate, visit StPeteRising.com.