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Downtown Developments by St. Pete Rising
Halloween on Central is back! Photo by City of St. Petersburg
Downtown Developments
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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.
Nearly two miles of Central Avenue will close to car traffic this fall for Halloween on Central, an event demonstrating what a car-free Central Avenue could look like for locals, businesses, and visitors. Just like last year, the free event will span nearly two miles of Central Avenue, from Dr. MLK Jr. Street (9th Street) to 31st Street, through the EDGE District and Grand Central District of downtown St. Pete. Along the way, attendees can enjoy music, performers, food trucks, costume contests, haunted houses, flash mobs, mummy dancers, and other activities. There will also be trick-ortreating for kids and special Halloween festivities for all.
Top Buttons is coming soon to 855 Central Ave Suite C
Alexan 1700, a seven-story 267-unit apartment community, has been proposed for 1700 Central Avenue in the the Grand Central District. The block is home to a collection of small residential and commercial buildings occupied by local businesses such as The Burg Bar and Grill, Lolita’s Wine Market, Dirty Laundry, and Avid Brew Company. However, Alexan 1700 still has significant hurdles to overcome before becoming a reality. Namely, the developer will have to close on the property, either honor the existing leases or buy out the tenants, and receive approval from the City.
Last month, a 110-year-old two-story house was uprooted from its original location in downtown St. Pete, placed on a trailer, and moved 0.6 miles to a new spot near Round Lake. The move paved the way for The Nolen, a 23-story 31-unit boutique condominium tower, which subsequently broke ground at 136 4th Avenue Northeast. Construction is expected to take 20 months with completion in mid-2024.
Top Buttons is coming soon to 855 Central Avenue Suite C on the ground floor of Camden Central in downtown St. Pete. The upscale women’s boutique will sell pre-owned designer clothing as well as shoes, belts, purses, and other accessories. Best of all, the profit from selling the donated clothes will go towards helping victimized girls in the community. Top Buttons hopes to open by the end of the year.
Bad Mother Coffee is now open inside Station House at 260 1st Ave S
Ringside Cafe Reopened at 350 1st Ave N
Bad Mother Coffee recently replaced TeBella Tea Company inside Station House at 260 1st Avenue South in downtown St. Pete. The multiroaster shop is currently serving coffee from Eastlick Coffee, a local coffee roaster with a mission of connecting people to unique, ethically sourced coffees from around the world. Bad Mother is open Monday-Friday from 8-5pm and Saturday-Sunday from 9-3pm.
Ringside Café, which has operated in St. Pete for more than 30 years, recently reopened at 350 1st Avenue North across from Williams Park after the lease at their Jannus Block was not renewed. The longstanding music venue’s new spot has a capacity of about 250 people and plans to carry on the tradition of hosting live music seven days a week. A 1970s-themed nightclub, Good Night John Boy, will open in Ringside’s former space by the end of this year.
