A new drive-thru bakery specializing in naturally fermented sourdough bread is coming soon to Largo.

Seminole Sourdough is expected to open this fall at 12185 Indian Rocks Road, which was previously home to a golf cart rental company and Good Vibes Juice Co. before that.

Owner Tracy Hintz is still finalizing the menu, but past offerings have included roasted garlic and rosemary, jalapeño cheddar, pumpkin spice, kalamata olive and feta, and blueberry lemon.

Seminole Sourdough’s traditional plain loaf contains just three ingredients: water, flour and salt. The slow process behind each loaf can take more than 24 hours and includes bulk fermentation, shaping, cold proofing, baking, cooling, and packaging.

“Sourdough is truly a craft, and even after two years, I am constantly learning, experimenting and refining my process,” Hintz said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

She is also recipe testing sourdough-based scones, cookies, bagels, English muffins, and crackers.

Bottled tea, coffee and juice will also be available through the drive-thru.

Hintz spent more than 20 years in the mortgage industry before deciding it was time for a career change in 2024. After a friend introduced her to sourdough baking, she began making bread as a hobby and eventually started selling loaves from her home kitchen.

As demand grew, Hintz outgrew the space and began looking for a commercial location. She found the perfect fit in a 1,136-square-foot Largo building with an existing drive-thru.

“My dad lives right down the road, so I have driven past this little building countless times and have watched it become several different businesses over the years,” Hintz said. “The size of the building and the existing drive-thru made it such a unique fit for what I wanted to create.”

Hintz signed the lease in June and has spent the past several weeks preparing the space for its next chapter. The work has included navigating the permitting process, installing baking equipment, and replacing aging plumbing and electrical systems.

Rather than offering on-site seating, the bakery is designed around quick drive-thru service for customers picking up freshly baked bread.

“From the research I’ve done, I haven’t found another dedicated sourdough bread drive-thru quite like what we’re creating,” Hintz explained. “I love the idea of taking something very traditional, naturally fermented sourdough bread, and pairing it with an extremely modern and convenient way to buy it.”

Ahead of its fall opening, Seminole Sourdough is hosting pop-ups at Indian Rocks Fresh Market, Belleair Market, and Gulf Coast Seafood Market to introduce its bread to the surrounding community.

“The response has been incredible, and many of our pop-ups have sold out very quickly,” Hintz said. “They give new customers a chance to try Seminole Sourdough while allowing me to continue baking for our returning customers until our permanent location is ready.”

Hintz credits her father, her friend Paul Noeske, local cottage bakery Care-N-Loaves, and St. Pete-based Ganster & Company Painting with helping bring the bakery to life.

Follow Seminole Sourdough on Facebook for its pop-up schedule and updates on the brick-and-mortar buildout.

St. Petersburg has recommended six affordable housing projects for a combined $40.85 million in federal disaster-recovery funding, a major investment that would add or preserve 645 affordable apartments across the city.

The recommendations follow a competitive Request for Applications process through the city’s Affordable Rental Housing Program.

City Council is expected to finalize the awards on September 17th.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program.

Congress appropriated the funding following Hurricanes Idalia in 2023 and Helene in 2024, and HUD awarded St. Petersburg $159.884 million directly for long-term recovery work.

HUD designated the entire city as a Most Impacted and Distressed area, allowing St. Pete to use the funding for housing, infrastructure, economic revitalization and mitigation connected to the storms.

Of the city’s total allocation, $48 million was set aside for affordable rental housing.

The program is designed to help address the post-storm housing needs of lower-income renters and can be used for new construction or major rehabilitation of existing affordable housing.

Projects had to reserve at least 51% of their apartments for households earning 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less.

The city also gave preference to projects with deeper affordability, long-term affordability commitments, financing in place, access to transit and services, and housing for seniors, people with disabilities, residents experiencing homelessness and other special-needs populations.

Of the 27 applications submitted through the city’s Request for Applications process, six projects were selected for funding:

JR Tower

The largest award, $15 million, would go to JR Tower, a 150-unit affordable housing development planned at 1850 Central Avenue.

Blue Sky Communities is developing the project, with Place Architecture serving as architect and DeAngelis Diamond as general contractor.

All 150 apartments would be affordable to households earning up to 80% of AMI for 99 years. The mix includes five units at 22% of AMI, 23 at 30% AMI, 88 at 60% AMI and 34 at 80% AMI.

JR Tower is expected to cost about $72.6 million and would include 97 one-bedroom and 53 two-bedroom apartments.

Plans also call for 2,700 square feet of retail space along Central Avenue, a fitness center, club room and library.

Construction is expected to begin in August 2027 and wrap up in April 2029.

Hartford & Saratoga Apartments

Blue Sky Communities and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority would receive $7.4 million for Hartford & Saratoga Apartments, a 109-unit affordable housing development near the southeast corner of 32nd Avenue North and Hartford Street.

The $37.5 million project combines 75 new affordable apartments on Hartford Street with the renovation of 34 existing Saratoga Apartments units at 3475 32nd Avenue North and 3480 33rd Avenue North.

Eighty-one apartments, or 74% of the project, would be reserved for households earning up to 30% of AMI. The remaining apartments would serve households earning up to 80% of AMI.

Blue Sky Communities is developing the project with the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. Place Architecture is the architect, and Park & Eleazer Construction is the general contractor.

Amenities would include a leasing office, clubroom, multipurpose programming space and fitness center.

Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and finish one year later.

Trailside Estates II

Magellan Housing’s Trailside Estates II would receive $7.05 million for a 94-unit affordable housing community for residents age 55 and older.

The project is planned for the eastern half of a parcel at the southeast corner of the Pinellas Trail and 40th Street South.

All 94 apartments would be affordable to households earning up to 80% of AMI. Fifteen units would be reserved for households earning 30% of AMI or less, while another 57 would be restricted at 60% of AMI or below.

The roughly $38.6 million project would include 48 one-bedroom and 46 two-bedroom apartments.

Halflants + Pichette is the architect, while a general contractor has not yet been selected.

A key feature is the project’s location directly along the Pinellas Trail. Magellan plans to build dedicated pedestrian connections between the property and the trail, giving residents direct access to the recreation and transportation corridor.

Construction is expected to start in January 2028 and finish in March 2029.

Skyway Flats

Elmington Capital’s Skyway Flats would receive $4.1 million for a new 176-unit affordable housing community near the northeast corner of 38th Avenue South and 34th Street South.

All 176 apartments would be income- and rent-restricted.

The project would include 43 one-bedroom, 95 two-bedroom and 38 three-bedroom apartments. Eighteen would be reserved for households earning up to 30% of AMI and designated for young adults aging out of foster care.

Another 52 units would serve households earning up to 40% of AMI, 18 would serve households earning up to 50% of AMI, and the remaining 88 would be restricted at 80% of AMI.

Skyway Flats is expected to cost about $77.2 million.

Southeast Venture is the architect and Elmington Construction is the general contractor.

The six-story development would include a pool, fitness center, leasing office with community space and on-site maintenance.

Construction is expected to begin in February 2027 and be complete in January 2029.

The Portland Apartments

The Portland Apartments, a 68-unit affordable housing tower built in 2011 at 300 8th Street North, would receive $2.5 million for a major renovation.

The 12-story building is being preserved as affordable housing through a partnership between the Pinellas County Housing Authority and Sunrise Affordable Housing Group.

All 68 apartments are affordable, with units restricted at either 35% or 60% of AMI.

The roughly $24.9 million project would renovate aging building systems, apartment interiors, windows and the roof.

Gallo Herbert Architects is the architect and ICON National is the general contractor.

The building includes a fitness center, community room, on-site management and 68 parking spaces.

Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2027 and be completed in February 2028. The investment would preserve the building’s affordability for at least 99 years.

Residences at 1663

The final award, $4.8 million, would go to Residences at 1663, a mixed-use project planned at 1663 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District.

BendinRoad Development plans to demolish an existing one-story office building and replace it with a 13-story development containing 60 apartments and 60 hotel rooms.

Forty-eight of the 60 apartments would be affordable to households earning up to 80% of AMI for 99 years.

The $39.4 million project is intended to serve workforce residents, including health care workers, teachers, hospitality employees and other service-sector workers.

Bold Line Design is the architect, and Nicholas & Associates is the general contractor.

The building would include a rooftop pool, gym and coworking space with downtown views.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2027 and finish in August 2028.

The city’s funds would be limited to eligible costs tied to the residential component and could not be used for the hotel portion of the project.

A small specialty grocery store focused on organic, locally-grown foods is headed to St. Pete, offering a more direct connection to nearby farms, a curated selection of clean ingredients, and products you won’t typically find at larger grocery stores.

Lakeview Farm Store will open its second location late summer or early fall at 1847 1st Avenue North in the Grand Central District, taking over the former home of educational nonprofit school Indi-ED, which relocated to 1619 11th Avenue North last spring.

The 3,540 square-foot space will be significantly larger than the company’s 1,000-square-foot Clearwater farm store.

The business is run by the Barbagelata family, who moved from Argentina to Pinellas County in 2021.

Their father worked as an agricultural engineer, connecting farmers to global markets, an influence that shaped the store’s approach to sourcing and food quality.

“We were always connected to farming through our dad,” Mateo Barbagelata said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “But when we came here, we saw an opportunity to build something different, something more transparent, and closer to the source.”

Rather than relying on traditional distribution channels, Lakeview partners directly with local producers, including Life Farms, Alday Farm, Florida Fruit Co-op, Olivor Heritage Farms, Fort McCoy Ranch, and other small ranchers who raise 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef and organic, soy-free, corn-free, pasture-raised chicken.

The team is also excited to welcome Gamble Creek Farms as a primary supplier of organic vegetables and tropical fruits.

The Barbagelatas regularly visit farms and get to know the growers, so they have a clear understanding of how the food is actually produced.

“We always know the farmer, their soil, and the practices they’re using,” Mateo said. “Our mission is to help rebuild the food system by making truly transparent, nutrient dense, responsibly raised food accessible to every community.”

The St. Pete location will offer seasonal organic produce, grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, and a wide selection of raw dairy products, including milk, cheese, butter, kefir, and yogurt.

The larger store will also carry an expanded selection of pantry staples, supplements, household essentials, and freshly baked organic sourdough bread and pastries.

Mateo’s sister, Belen Barbagelata, said the goal is to simplify shopping for customers looking for clean ingredients.

“When you enter our store, you don’t have to read every label,” she said. “We’ve already done that work. Everything meets our standards: no seed oils, no refined sugars, no ultra-processed foods. Only clean, organic ingredients.”

The store will also introduce a dedicated juice kitchen producing organic cold-pressed juices made in-house, along with organic coffee and house made milks such as almond and coconut.

The shop will also carry a selection of locally-made specialty goods, such as kimchi and sauerkraut from St. Pete Ferments.

Beyond the products themselves, the Barbagelatas say the in-store experience is just as important.

“We try to offer more than just grocery shopping,” Mateo said. “We’ve built real relationships with our customers over the years, and we want to bring that same community to St. Pete.”

Currently, Lakeview offers same-day delivery in Pinellas County and next-day delivery throughout the rest of the Tampa Bay area. Once the new location opens, the company plans to expand same-day delivery across the entire Tampa Bay region.

The Barbagelatas said St. Pete was a natural fit due to its strong support for local businesses and a growing base of health-conscious residents.

They added that many of their current customers already travel from St. Pete to their Clearwater store.

Construction is underway, with a full interior renovation planned.

The team is targeting an opening in late summer or early fall.

“We know how important community is in St. Pete,” said Belen. “We want to be part of that and create something people feel connected to.”

Lakeview will also be the driving force behind the food served at Casa Origen, a farm-to-table restaurant opening in the EDGE District later this summer.

Be sure to follow Lakeview Farm Store on Instagram and Facebook for more information about its opening in St. Pete.

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille in Jungle Terrace is closing this weekend, but the waterfront restaurant isn’t going away.

The restaurant at 8790 Bay Pines Boulevard will serve its final guests as Doc Ford’s Jungle Terrace on Sunday, August 2nd. It will then close from August 3 through August 9 for a remodel before reopening Monday, August 10th, as Boca Ciega Waterfront Bar & Grill.

The new restaurant will remain under the leadership of HM Restaurant Group, which also operates Doc Ford’s locations at the St. Pete Pier, Sanibel, and Fort Myers Beach.

The change follows an announcement on social media that initially appeared to signal the permanent closure of the Jungle Terrace restaurant.

However, the location is simply being rebranded as a new concept intended to better reflect its role as a neighborhood gathering place and the character of the surrounding community.

Guests can expect refreshed interior décor along with new food and drink menus when Boca Ciega Waterfront Bar & Grill opens.

HM Restaurant Group purchased the 2.2-acre waterfront property in 2021 for $3.45 million.

The site, formerly home to Green Iguana Bar and Grill and Joe’s Crab Shack, includes a 6,750-square-foot building, a 4,150-square-foot porch and deck, 306 feet of water frontage, and transient boat slips.

Doc Ford’s Jungle Terrace opened in December 2022 as the group’s second St. Petersburg location, following the restaurant at the St. Pete Pier.

While the Jungle Terrace location adopts its new identity, the Pier, Sanibel, and Fort Myers Beach Doc Ford’s locations will remain open as usual.

At St. Pete Rising, we are constantly providing comprehensive coverage on everything new and coming soon to the Sunshine City, but we think it’s also important to take a look back at our city's rich history.

Historically St. Pete, a monthly column on St. Pete Rising written by Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History Rui Farias, covers everything from the legend of underground mobster tunnels to the buildings and people that created the Sunshine City.

Follow us each month as we explore how these projects shaped St. Pete into the city we know and love today.

This month, we explore the history of the 99-year-old YMCA building at 116 Fifth Street South and its nearly 75-year run as one of the city’s most popular community centers.

In a city nearly surrounded by water, there was one place on Fifth Street South where, for decades, thousands of St. Petersburg children dunked their heads underwater for the first time during swim lessons.

At least until an older cousin decided the next lesson would take place off a dock in Big Bayou, where it was sink or swim.

It took seven years, but on June 20th, 1927, the St. Petersburg YMCA officially opened its doors.

Formed in 1920, the city’s chapter of the Young Men’s Christian Association went to work raising funds to build a home on the corner of Fifth Street and Second Avenue South in downtown St. Pete.

Reflecting the community’s commitment to creating a center for recreation, education, and fellowship, $550,000 was raised, allowing for the construction of the city’s first publicly funded civic building.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Fundraising began during the height of the city’s 1920s boom.

By the time construction was complete, St. Petersburg was about to enter a land and housing bust it wouldn’t see again for 90 years.

The beloved downtown building was designed in the popular Mediterranean Revival style by University of Minnesota professor Clarence H. Johnson, who teamed up with local architect Archie G. Parish.

Parish also designed Christ United Methodist Church, Mound Park Hospital, Jordan Park Housing Project, and the First Church of Christ, Scientist, now the Palladium Theater.

Edward S. Moore & Sons was brought on to build the four-story YMCA — six stories if you count the tower and basement.

It was constructed with arched windows and doorways, wreathed columns, ornamental iron railings, a changing roofline with barrel tiles, and interior tiles imported from Seville, Spain.

Built across Fifth Street from the newly completed Florida Power Building, the YMCA was an architectural beauty from the moment it opened.

As striking as its exterior was — and remains — it was the activities and amenities within its walls that made the building the city’s most popular recreational facility for decades.

The YMCA housed a full-size gymnasium that accommodated basketball, judo, boxing, gymnastics, wrestling, volleyball, and badminton. It also featured locker rooms, a weightlifting area, and an indoor running track.

Beneath these facilities, in the basement, was one of the largest indoor swimming pools in the city.

It also provided reading rooms, dining facilities, and 54 dormitory rooms for men.

Team athletics were also a big part of the YMCA. In 1956, the St. Pete Y gymnastics team won the national championship in New Orleans.

By 1957, the St. Pete YMCA wanted to expand the scope of services it provided to city families and created its first program for girls as part of its Family Y portfolio.

The YMCA also hired European-trained ballet instructors and started a Thursday Family Night program.

By the end of 1957, the YMCA on Fifth Street South was serving 4,000 people a week.

The YMCA served generations of residents before dormitory operations ended in 1989. In 2001, the organization relocated to the new YMCA on the corner of 32nd Street and 1st Avenue South.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and designated a local landmark in 1991, the regal building at 116 Fifth Street South has been vacant for two decades.

Past legal battles over ownership deterred progress on the building. Current owners have floated ideas for a boutique hotel and wedding venue.

Before the era of 24-hour television, computers, and the internet, the historic YMCA played a central role in the lives of St. Petersburg families. Today, the building remains an important part of the city’s architectural heritage and a lasting symbol of its civic history.

The Blend Coffee & Cocktails has quietly closed its flagship cafe at 1211 4th Street North after six years in business.

“The Blend Coffee has made the difficult decision to consolidate its St. Petersburg operations, which means its original Old Northeast location will be closing,” owner Stacha Madsen told St. Pete Rising. “While it’s always tough to see a neighborhood favorite leave a space that holds so many memories, this isn’t goodbye.”

Madsen said The Blend isn’t leaving St. Pete. The company will continue serving the community from its Magnolia Heights cafe at 3001 16th Street North and its drive-thru at 2760 34th Street North.

The Blend’s locations in Pinellas Park, Tampa, and Palmetto also remain open.

Madsen and her daughter, Nichole Richardson, opened their first local cafe inside the Tampa Bay Times building at 490 1st Avenue South in downtown St. Pete in December 2019 after relocating from Seattle.

The 4th Street North cafe followed in early 2020 and became one of The Blend’s most prominent locations.

The company expanded rapidly over the next several years, opening cafes across the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

The local coffee chain is best known for its seasonal coffee flights, which allow customers to sample several flavored lattes. Its summer lineup includes vanilla rose, white pineapple, mocha colada, and salted toffee.

The menu also features wine-based cocktails, smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches.

The Blend uses a signature espresso blend made with beans from Brazil, Nicaragua, and Peru and roasted by a wholesale roaster in Madsen’s hometown of Seattle. It also serves white espresso, which the company describes as having a lighter, nuttier flavor and more caffeine than traditional espresso.

Last November, The Blend filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a process that allows businesses to continue operating while reorganizing their debts.

Over the past few months, the company has closed its drive-thru near Central Avenue and Pasadena Avenue in west St. Pete, along with locations in Largo and Land O’ Lakes.

Getting from downtown St. Petersburg to Tampa International Airport (TPA) without a car is about to become much easier.

Beginning in October, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will launch the 727, a new premium express bus service connecting downtown St. Pete directly to the airport.

The route will make nine stops throughout downtown, including stops at SunRunner stations, before traveling nonstop to the airport using the Howard Frankland Bridge express lanes.

“For years, one of the questions I have received is, ‘How do I get from downtown St. Petersburg to the airport without driving?’” PSTA CEO Brad Miller said during a joint announcement with airport officials Monday morning. “Until now, we didn’t have a very good answer. Today, we do.”

The daily service is being touted as a more predictable alternative to driving and parking, particularly during peak tourism periods when the airport’s garages frequently reach capacity.

Buses equipped with luggage racks and Wi-Fi will operate from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, with service approximately every 75 minutes. The trip is expected to take about 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Passengers will be dropped off at Tampa International Airport’s Rental Car Center, where they can take the automated SkyConnect train to the main terminal.

“Many travelers, including our international visitors, are accustomed to having public transportation options when they travel, and this will help meet that expectation,” Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stephens said during the event.

In addition to serving the airport’s 25 million annual passengers, Stephens said the new route will provide another transportation option for its nearly 11,000 employees, many of whom live in St. Pete.

The 727 is a major component of PSTA’s Vision 2030 strategic plan and was developed in coordination with Tampa International Airport and the Florida Department of Transportation.

The new service will replace Route 100, which currently connects downtown St. Petersburg and downtown Tampa via the Gandy Bridge.

Route 100 has historically experienced low ridership and does not operate on weekends or serve the airport. PSTA officials project the 727 will provide 75% more trips across Tampa Bay than Route 100.

The route will also expand cross-bay transportation options as PSTA prepares to relaunch ferry service between downtown St. Petersburg and downtown Tampa later this year.

The newly renamed Tampa Bay Ferry will feature a two-vessel fleet operated by Hubbard’s Marina.

“Think how easy it will be to arrive at the airport and ride the 727 to St. Pete and then ride the ferry over to Tampa to see the Tampa Bay Lightning or get a bite in Tampa,” PSTA Vice Chairperson and South Pasadena Commissioner Tom Reid said.

A one-way fare on the 727 will cost $2.25. A PSTA official said passengers who use the route and connect to other parts of St. Pete through the agency’s bus network will pay no more than $5 per day.

Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine, a new restaurant serving fried chicken, smothered pork chops, collard greens, candied yams, and other soul food staples, is preparing to open near the corner of Central Avenue and 49th Street in St. Pete.

The restaurant, located in a 1,200-square-foot space at 119 49th Street South, is expected to debut in late summer or early fall.

St. Pete native Cornicole Rollins-Holt will operate Mrs. Thelma’s with her husband, Melvin. The restaurant is named after Melvin’s late mother, Thelma, an avid home cook who dreamed of opening a restaurant of her own.

The Holts plan to honor her legacy by creating a welcoming neighborhood restaurant centered around homestyle cooking and Southern hospitality.

“Mrs. Thelma’s is one of those places where we want to offer that homey, cozy feel,” Cornicole said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “When we say our motto is ‘Just Like Mom’s,’ I want it to feel like you’re walking into your family’s house when you’re at the restaurant. As soon as you walk in, the smells will take you back.”

The menu will feature fried and baked chicken, smothered pork chops, turkey wings, meatloaf, candied yams, collard greens, cornbread, and black-eyed peas.

A sign outside the restaurant advertises the “World’s Best Mac and Cheese,” which the Holts describe as an ultra-creamy baked version made with a unique blend of cheeses.

Homemade sweet tea, pineapple lemonade, fruit punch, and sodas will be served alongside desserts such as red velvet cake, sweet potato pie, banana pudding, and fruit cobblers.

The food will be available à la carte or as combination platters priced between $12 and $15, depending on the protein.

Once the restaurant is up and running, the Holts also plan to introduce rotating weekend specials featuring barbecue prepared by Melvin.

The recipes served at Mrs. Thelma’s were passed down from Thelma to her son and will allow Melvin to share the dishes he grew up eating with a new generation.

“Every recipe we serve is inspired by the warmth she shared around the table,” Melvin wrote on social media. “Every plate is made with love, just like she taught us.”

Although the restaurant pays tribute to Melvin’s mother, who was originally from Gainesville, the business also holds personal significance for Cornicole.

Her grandmother operated a successful restaurant in St. Pete’s historic Deuces district during the 1960s and 1970s, giving Cornicole her own familial connection to the city’s culinary history.

The space has housed several restaurants over the years, most recently breakfast spot Good Eating, which closed in late 2025. Previous occupants also included 727 Seafood & Grill and Domino’s Pizza.

Mrs. Thelma’s will offer four tables and a long counter for dine-in customers. Vintage vinyl records from the 1970s and 1980s will decorate the walls, while a tribute to Thelma will greet customers as they enter.

Looking ahead, the Holts hope to eventually open a second, larger restaurant elsewhere in St. Pete featuring cafeteria-style dining.

“I just hope we’re able to become a staple in the community that’s around for many years,” Cornicole said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to expand and create jobs for others as well.”

Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine plans to operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday after its opening in late summer or early fall.

Be sure to follow Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine on Facebook and Instagram for updates on its anticipated debut.

St. Pete Pier’s Marketplace, which sells everything from handcrafted goods and hot sauces to fresh flowers, may get a new look soon.

Operating Friday through Sunday, the Marketplace is home to 28 tenants: seven permanent kiosks and 21 vendors operating out of 10-by-10-foot tents. The kiosks are fixed, weatherproof structures that stay in place year-round, while the tents are temporary setups vendors must assemble and break down each weekend.

To improve the experience for vendors and create a unified design, the city is considering a plan to replace three tents with permanent kiosks each year, phasing out the tents over the next seven years.

"We've always wanted to have [more] kiosks," said Beth Herendeen, managing director of the City Development Administration, during this week's Workforce and Economic Development Committee meeting.

The temporary tents were never part of the vision of the 26-acre Pier District, which boasts modern amenities like a playground, splash pad, and landscaped paths.

Herendeen explained that the additional kiosks have been included in the city's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), a multi-year roadmap used to plan, prioritize, and fund major public infrastructure projects, facility upgrades, and large equipment purchases, since 2022. However, other needs were prioritized.

"This is important for the small businesses, and it's something that they've been requesting for a long time, and so have we," Herendeen continued.

Councilwoman Gina Driscoll introduced the request but was absent during the meeting.

Tenants operating out of tents must endure hardships such as blazing heat and exposure to the elements during storms.

Meanwhile, the existing permanent kiosks are built from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), a versatile plastic designed to withstand harsh saltwater environments and intense sun exposure, along with 316 pieces of stainless-steel hardware.

Sara O'Brien, a kiosk vendor with Wide Sky, which creates humorous St. Pete-centric shirts, sympathizes with tent users.

"It's rough. The solar panel roof provides some shade, but not enough protection from the sun or rain, and business slows down in the summer," said O'Brien, who founded the business in 2014 and has been at the Pier since 2022.

"The downfall is having to break down everything each weekend, and especially when storms roll in, while the kiosk vendors can just close up," Buddy Carter, owner of Buddy Ocean, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

Carter started selling custom shirts, hats, tumblers, and art earlier this year at the Marketplace. Despite the environmental setbacks, he has found success at the Pier.

"I run a newer company, and I've had so much positive feedback from the St. Pete community that I decided to give this a run. I've learned so much from the other vendors and visitors. It's helped me become a better business," Carter said.

If the city were to move forward on the new kiosks, Creative Arts and Awning Works, which designed and installed the original units, would create kiosks in the same design, with a folding vinyl awning, decorative artwork, and electric wiring that would allow for the installation of air conditioning.

The three new kiosks would cost the city $208,730 to purchase each year. Vendors switching from tents to a new kiosk would pay the city $900 per month, a roughly $300 payment increase.

The city would recoup the cost of the kiosks over a six-and-a-half-year payback period.

"We do have a few vacancies at the Marketplace, and kiosks would be an easier sell than tents," Herendeen said, noting that the team was also exploring another option — shipping containers.

By comparison, three 10-by-10-foot containers, which would include air conditioning, electrical installation and conduit work, and exterior artwork, would cost the city $483,754.

The monthly shipping container lease would cost tenants $1,500.

"We did look at more options. We could get something less costly, but not as durable," Herendeen said, adding that the kiosks are the most financially feasible and aesthetically aligned option for the Pier.

During the meeting, committee members ultimately decided to keep the item on the referral list and try to identify a funding source. Once a funding source is identified, it may take a year for the first new kiosks to be installed.

Members also said they would like to see more vendor diversity. They suggested the one-year leases could offer more flexibility for struggling tenants, such as joint or shared leases, as well as more opportunities for the city to promote Marketplace businesses.

A new all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant quietly opened its doors in Pinellas Park last weekend.

Sushi Yama is now open at 7790 U.S. Highway 19 North, down the street from Bojangles and bb.q Chicken.

The restaurant occupies the roughly 8,000-square-foot building formerly home to WingHouse, which closed last summer. After about a year and a half of renovations, Sushi Yama officially opened July 18th and seats approximately 200 guests.

The menu features a wide variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, hand rolls, soups, salads, and cooked Japanese dishes, including hibachi entrees, teriyaki, fried rice, yaki udon, tempura, and katsu.

Like many modern all-you-can-eat sushi concepts, guests order from a menu, dishes are prepared to order and delivered directly to the table rather than served buffet-style.

The restaurant offers more than a dozen specialty rolls in addition to traditional favorites like spicy tuna and California rolls. Options include the deep-fried Little Tokyo, made with krab, cooked shrimp, avocado, and cream cheese, then topped with eel sauce, mayo, and fried onions. Another popular choice is the Snow White roll, featuring shrimp tempura, snow crab, and eel sauce.

The drink menu includes soft drinks, tea, beer, wine, sake, and cocktails.

All-you-can-eat dinner is priced at $35.95 for adults, with discounted pricing available for children. Lunch is available Monday through Friday for $22.95 per adult.

Guests who prefer not to order all-you-can-eat can also choose from an à la carte menu featuring sushi, hibachi entrees, noodles, and other Japanese dishes.

Among the restaurant's signature offerings are customizable sushi boats, priced between $45.95 and $59.95, featuring an assortment of specialty rolls, nigiri, and sashimi.

While several restaurants throughout Florida operate under the Sushi Yama name, including locations in Orlando, West Palm Beach, and Tampa, the Pinellas Park restaurant is independently owned.

According to a manager at the Pinellas Park location, the restaurant is not affiliated with the Sushi Yama at 10017 E. Adamo Drive in Tampa, despite the similar name, menu offerings, and all-you-can-eat concept.

Sushi Yama is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Head to Sushi Yama’s Instagram or Facebook for more information about Pinellas Park’s newest sushi buffet.

Maple Street Biscuit Company in downtown St. Pete will soon become a new breakfast and brunch destination following a change in ownership.

Parent company Cracker Barrel announced Tuesday that it has sold Maple Street Biscuit Company to Louisville, Kentucky-based breakfast chain Biscuit Belly. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As part of the acquisition, 16 Maple Street locations will close while Biscuit Belly will assume ownership of the remaining 35, including the restaurant at 662 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete.

The acquired locations will be renovated and rebranded as Biscuit Belly restaurants over the next 18 to 24 months, with the first conversions expected later this year. The St. Pete restaurant is expected to rebrand in the first quarter of 2027. The deal will more than triple Biscuit Belly's footprint, bringing the chain to roughly 60 locations.

"Acquiring an iconic brand like Maple Street, one of the original gourmet biscuit sandwich concepts, was not on my 2026 bingo card," said Chad Coulter, co-founder and CEO of Biscuit Belly.

"Two of the biggest headwinds growing brands encounter are the time required to find and build locations, and the difficulty of finding great teams," Coulter said. "When we looked at Maple Street's geography, footprints and established teams, a light bulb went off."

Maple Street Biscuit Company has operated in St. Pete since 2018, one year before Cracker Barrel acquired the Jacksonville-founded chain for $36 million.

When the transition is complete, customers can expect a new look, updated branding, and an entirely different menu.

Founded in 2019 by former pharmacists Chad and Lauren Coulter, Biscuit Belly was created to bridge the gap between quick-service breakfast restaurants and traditional sit-down brunch spots. The company began franchising in 2020.

"Our food is prepared from scratch every single day with a menu designed by a classically trained Southern chef," the company says on its website. "We took Southern classics and made them better."

Like Maple Street, Biscuit Belly centers its menu around fresh-baked biscuits, but with a broader brunch focus.

Signature sandwiches include the Mama's Boy, topped with buttermilk fried chicken, roasted jalapeño pimento cheese, spicy belly pickles, and fried green tomato, and the Biscuit Bennie, featuring smoked brisket, poached eggs, smoked Gouda mornay, roasted tomatoes, and poblano tomato sauce.

The menu also includes breakfast platters, omelets, wraps, sandwiches, salads, cheesy grits, loaded tots, and shareable favorites like Bonuts, biscuit doughnut holes, and Pancake Corndogs, sausage links dipped in pancake batter and served with maple mayo.

In addition to coffee drinks, cold brew, chai, and house-made sodas, Biscuit Belly serves a full brunch cocktail menu featuring espresso martinis, Bloody Marys, mimosas, and specialty espresso beverages like the Praline Mocha and The Buckeye.

Once rebranded, the downtown St. Pete location is expected to operate daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with extended weekend hours until 3 p.m. The restaurant will offer dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

The City of St. Petersburg is one step closer to advancing projects aimed at reducing canal-related flooding and restoring local waterways, with Riviera Bay expected to be a primary focus.

According to the Riviera Bay Civic Association, the neighborhood's drainage canals have filled with sand and sediment over time, reducing their capacity to hold and move water and contributing to recurring flooding.

Earlier this month, the city announced that its request for authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood resilience, ecosystem restoration, and canal dredging was unanimously approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The approval is included in the 2026 reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the federal legislation that authorizes water infrastructure, flood control, and ecosystem restoration projects nationwide.

The St. Petersburg project still depends on final passage of the bill, which is expected to be considered by Congress later this year.

Working with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, St. Petersburg was one of only three Florida municipalities to receive a similar authorization in the legislation—and the only city to have a project explicitly authorized.

The legislation authorizes a project focused on flood risk management, coastal storm risk reduction, and ecosystem restoration in St. Petersburg, including work on the city's canal system.

A study will be conducted to determine which canals should be dredged as part of the city's ongoing efforts to reduce flooding.

“The request for action approval means the City will have additional resources to identify which canals should be dredged and increase overall flood mitigation for our residents,” Mayor Ken Welch said in a statement.

“This is not only a win for Riviera Bay, but for our entire community. I thank our residents for holding us accountable,” he added.

St. Petersburg's low-lying neighborhoods along creeks, ponds, and the coastline have experienced some of the city's most severe flooding in recent years, particularly during the back-to-back hurricanes of 2024.

In December 2025, the city approved a project to study canal dredging in Riviera Bay, one of several neighborhoods that has experienced recurring flood issues. The need for additional flood mitigation has become increasingly urgent as tidal flooding becomes more frequent.

In 2005, tides exceeded two feet above sea level on just three days. By 2024, that number had risen to 21 days.

According to the Florida Flood Hub, St. Petersburg could experience tidal flooding on approximately 70 days per year by 2033. The organization also estimates that about 45% of the city sits at an elevation low enough to fall within FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Area.

The canal study is one of several flood resilience initiatives currently underway. Earlier this year, the city secured a $2 million state appropriation to help fund a new stormwater pump station and drainage improvements in Shore Acres, another neighborhood that has experienced chronic flooding.

City leaders are also advancing the St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) program, a proposed $600 million bond initiative that would accelerate flood protection projects, stormwater upgrades, and utility system hardening throughout the city before the next major storm.

After serving patrons and sports fans for a decade, the popular local hangout Thirsty First will permanently close its doors.

Thirsty First, which has been a staple of downtown St. Petersburg’s nightlife scene since 2016, announced it will close its bar and restaurant at 515 Central Avenue.

A final celebration amongst friends and loyal guests will be held on Sunday, July 26, owner Greg Mikurak announced on Facebook and Instagram Monday evening.  

“When I opened Thirsty First, I hoped to build a great sports bar. What I never expected was to build a community and a family,” wrote Mikurak.

“Over the last decade, I've watched first dates turn into marriages, strangers become lifelong friends, championship celebrations shake the walls, and thousands of people choose to spend some of the best moments of their lives with us,” he continued. “We've celebrated victories, survived difficult times, and made memories that I'll carry with me forever.”

Mikurak, who co-owns another other Central Avenue bar called Whiskey Exchange, didn’t state a reason behind the closure. He also owned country bar Ride ’Em Cowboy, which closed in January.

However, the sports bar is facing an active eviction lawsuit filed by the landlord, alleging the bar owner has failed to pay rent for multiple months and neglected to cover property taxes and insurance premiums.

The announcement of the closure and lawsuit come just three years after Thirsty First relocated from 119 1st Avenue North to 515 Central Avenue, allowing Thirsty First to triple in size and expand its food offerings.

The expansive space features a 1,400-square-foot kitchen and 69 TVs across two floors, with an upstairs VIP lounge and a 40-inch mini “Jumbotron.”

With several TVs and happy hour specials, the space was often filled with sports fans catching the latest UFC fights, watching football games, or enjoying live music and DJs on weekends.

“To every customer who became a regular, every employee who gave this place their heart, every musician, DJ, entertainer, vendor, and everyone who ever walked through our doors...thank you,” the social post read.

“These past 10 years have been some of the greatest years of my life because of all of you.
While this chapter is coming to an end, the memories we've created together never will,” the post continued, inviting everyone to enjoy the venue one last time and share stories.

Thirsty First is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.

A new St. Pete business specializes in sweet treats that are perfect for beating the sweltering summertime heat.

A small, tropical-themed trailer called Hanalei Shave Ice is parked at 2912 24th Street North near the St. Pete Heights neighborhood. On the weekends, it dishes out authentic and all-natural Hawaiian shave ice, a popular dessert that combines soft, thinly-shaved ice with locally-sourced fruit, sauces, and other toppings.

Owner Brandy Lynn Ford launched her business in Orlando’s Mills 50 district in 2019, and relocated the mobile shave ice business to St. Pete a few months ago.

“I just felt like a coastal city like St. Pete would be great for my small business, it’s a place that feels so homegrown to me,” Ford says in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “I wanted to bring something culturally authentic to this area, and also wanted to be a bit closer to the water.”

A military veteran who worked as a professional chef for over two decades, Ford has channeled her vast culinary experience into one product that has ties to her upbringing and culture.

“You’ll never see me in that camper without a smile on, because it is a joy to be able to do something that connects myself to my culture, my ancestors, and my kupuna. It makes me super proud to share this treat with people,” Ford says, whose father is a native Hawaiian.

There’s over a dozen shave ice flavors on the Hanalei menu, from fruity options like mango, lilikoi or passionfruit, lychee, coconut, and guava to unique offerings like Thai tea, milk and honey, cookies and cream, and key lime pie.

Customers can also add a housemade vanilla milk cream to achieve a thicker, ice cream-like texture.

Since St. Pete has a reputation for being a wellness and health-oriented city, she expects residents to enjoy her desserts, since she never uses added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

Ford says her best-selling flavors are ube and mango li hing, which is topped with a pickled, salted plum powder popular in Hawaii.

She’s also developing a new flavor that’s an ideal post-workout treat, a protein-filled shave ice that tastes like a creamy and tart Brazilian lemonade.

Hanalei’s menu is constantly changing, depending on what fruits are abundant and in-season. Weekly specials and a secret menu filled with unique shave ice creations are also available on a first-come-first serve basis.

In order to achieve the silky texture of authentic shave ice, Ford imports water directly from Hawaii, adjusting the minerality and PH before freezing it into large blocks.

The business is an homage to her late father, an indigenous Hawaiian who grew up on the island of Kauai. As a young man working in the taro and sugar cane fields, he sold shaved ice on the weekends for extra income.

For the first three years of her business, she hand-cranked each shave ice, just as her father did.

“One of the things that's really important to Hawaiian culture is that we give back to our āina or the land, and I always try to give back to my island,” Ford explains. “I think it enhances the business in a way, the fact that it’s named after our town of Hanalei. It’s where my family and my ancestors are actually from.”

With one location cemented near the St. Pete Heights neighborhood, Ford will eventually bring a second trailer to pop-up at local businesses and markets throughout Pinellas County.

She plans to regularly collaborate with Aloha to Go, one of the only authentic Hawaiian restaurants in Tampa Bay.

While Ford will operate two locations in St. Pete, she doesn’t plan to expand her business much further.

“I really like being a hidden gem because this treat is handcrafted and not something that can be rushed. I always want to be one-on-one with my customers,” Ford explains. “We really want that authentic flavor, and to do that, you can't replicate it on a mass scale.”

“I love that tiny businesses can be successful in St. Pete, we can bring true value to our communities and neighborhoods,” she continues.

Currently, Hanalei Shave Ice is open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays, with plans to expand service to Thursdays and Fridays in the coming months.

Follow Hanalei Shave Ice on Instagram and Facebook for updates about its weekend specials, operating hours, and more.

Known for its immersive pretend-play spaces and educational programming, Great Explorations Children's Museum is preparing to expand its footprint and offerings to all ages, but not without help and input from the community.

Founded in 1986 as The Hands-On Museum, Great Explorations has evolved into a 24,000-square-foot center for imagination and discovery designed for children around 8 years old.

The St. Petersburg institution, located at 1925 4th Street North next to Sunken Gardens, aims to further its educational programming by building a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)-focused discovery center at 5800 22nd Street South.

The 38-acre property near Pinellas Point is home to Bay Point Magnet Elementary and Bay Point Middle School. Earlier this year, the Pinellas County School Board approved a transition plan to combine the schools into a unified K-8 facility.

The structural shift supports district-wide optimization and planning efforts to address changing student enrollment trends.The shift is planned to take effect during the 2027–2028 academic year.

The Bay Point Middle School initially opened in 1962, and its new campus was opened in 2002. The middle school offers the Center for Advancement of the Sciences and Technology - a magnet program for math, science, foreign language, and technology.

Bay Point Elementary, which was rebuilt one year later in 2003, was the first elementary school to adopt the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum, offering interactive engineering and STEM challenges.

With the consolidation of the elementary and middle school, Great Explorations may take over the former Bay Point Magnet elementary school by the summer of 2027.

“Around 8 years old, kids age out of Great Explorations and there’s nowhere to go in our community for kids to play and learn through hands-on experimentation. A discovery center is just that - it’s designed for older elementary and middle schoolers,” said CEO Angeline Howell.

“We have long been a partner with the elementary and middle schools offering outreach programs. When this opportunity came forward, we jumped on it,” Howell explained during a community info and input session at the school on Wednesday.

Howell said there’s much to determine such as a potential lease agreement with the school district and if it will entail offering programs like child care and after school care, which she said the museum already plans to provide.

“Right now, our preschool alone has a waitlist of 300 kids,” she said. “We would likely prioritize addressing that, but we want to hear what the community wants to see.”

The existing museum would remain while the elementary school campus would become the discovery center.

Working with Wannemacher Jensen Architects, exhibits would emphasize imaginative play and problem-solving for younger attendees.

For older students, programming would lean toward career exploration with experiences in chemistry, space, architecture, robotics, and 3D printing.

During this week’s information session, both kids and adults presented a detailed list of additional ideas for the 80,000-square-foot campus, including exhibits and education focused on coding, drones, video production, and artificial intelligence (AI).

They also noted several ways to utilize existing infrastructure, such as building a splash pad in the concrete courtyard and using the cafeteria’s kitchen for food science classes.

Great Explorations had previously acquired a collection of science-based exhibits from a Chicago children’s science museum that closed during the Covid pandemic. Those exhibits are now in storage and would be part of the new discovery center.

The new center would focus on programs related to physical sciences, life sciences, applied sciences, and natural sciences.

Howell said the museum will likely kick off a capital campaign next year with the goal of raising around $15 million to cover the renovations and associated costs.

The expanded presence and footprint would mark a new chapter for the museum.

Since opening nearly 40 years ago, Great Explorations has moved several times, from its original site on 4th Street South in 1987 to the St. Pete Pier in 1998, and finally to its current home on 4th Street North in 2003.

In 2007, it became the first children’s museum in the nation to establish an on-site preschool, which served 28 students in its first year and has grown exponentially since.

The next community information session will be held on Wednesday, July 22nd from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The original museum will remain and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors can learn more by visiting Great Explorations’ website or following them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

The Helm Seafood Parlour is expanding on St. Pete Beach, relocating to a larger space next door while turning its original location into a new event venue and culinary workshop called The Scullery.

The restaurant will relocate from 7736 Blind Pass Road to the adjacent building at 7800 Blind Pass Road, the former home of Verducci's Trattoria and Pizzeria.

The Italian restaurant never reopened after the back-to-back hurricanes in 2024, and the building has remained vacant since then.

When The Helm reopens in the 4,120-square-foot former Verducci's space, it will offer nearly twice the restaurant space, a larger kitchen, additional seating and a private dining room that can accommodate 30 to 40 guests.

The Helm's original 2,500-square-foot location will be reimagined as The Scullery, an event venue and retail space that will host private events, cooking classes, and workshops.

The space will also sell kitchenware, home goods, shelf-stable foods, and St. Pete Beach-themed gifts.

“I've always thought we have a need for great gifts and kitchenware. I think St. Pete Beach is missing that, especially for people who are still rebuilding homes on the beaches,” Heidi Butler said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

“The Scullery will be such a great place to just gather—whether you're shopping for giftware, taking a class, or even setting up a bridal registry,” she added.

Butler said The Helm is expected to reopen later this month, pending final licensing approval.

The Scullery is expected to open a few weeks later, with a tentative debut in late August.

In addition to private events, The Scullery will host collaborations with guest chefs, wine tastings, ticketed dinners and themed events. Butler said programming will also include cooking classes for adults and children, along with workshops focused on oyster shucking, canning, and arts and crafts.

“We want to support arts and crafts classes too, they've really made a comeback,” Butler said. “I think in our world right now, we want to get away from our screens and start doing something that's a little more productive, and we would just love to be a part of that.”

The Helm opened on St. Pete Beach in 2021, serving locally sourced seafood alongside a rotating raw bar, coastal favorites, and all-day brunch.

The menu ranges from Maine lobster rolls, Maryland-style crab cakes and she-crab soup to steaks, sandwiches, and house-made desserts.

Although the new location will feature a significantly larger kitchen, Butler said The Helm plans to keep its menu largely the same in order to maintain the restaurant's quality and consistency.

"Our theory at The Helm is that we want people to relax, to feel like they're well taken care of, and like they're in somebody's house," Butler said. "We want to continue that same personalized service over in The Scullery as well."

A new fast-casual seafood restaurant specializing in shrimp dishes and ahi tuna bowls is coming to the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete.

Shaka Shrimp Kitchen is expected to open by the end of the year at 911 Central Avenue, replacing Buya Ramen, which closed last August after nine years in business.

The restaurant takes its name from the "shaka" hand gesture, a symbol commonly associated with friendliness, and gratitude.

Co-owner Ronan McCaffrey said the concept draws inspiration from Polynesian culture, helping shape the restaurant's relaxed, “come as you are” philosophy.

The menu will center around shrimp prepared in a variety of styles, alongside ahi tuna bowls.

All of the restaurant's dressings and sauces, such as garlic butter, coconut, and chili lime, will be made in-house.

Guests will order at the counter before staff deliver meals to their tables. A self-serve beverage station will also be available.

“We want to highlight shrimp through different cooking methods, entrees, and sauces,” McCaffrey said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “Shrimp is the most consumed seafood product in the United States.”

McCaffrey said Shaka Shrimp plans to source seafood and other ingredients from local purveyors and vendors whenever possible.

McCaffrey spent more than two decades with OSI Restaurant Partners, now known as Bloomin' Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill, before relocating to the Tampa Bay area.

He said Shaka Shrimp is backed by a small hospitality group with decades of restaurant industry experience.

The approximately 2,400-square-foot restaurant will undergo a complete renovation before opening, replacing the former Japanese izakaya with a modern coastal design inspired by island colors.

Plans include a rich blue color palette, new seating and tables, updated finishes, and other interior improvements.

While inspired by island culture, McCaffrey said the restaurant is not intended to be a themed dining experience.

“We think downtown is missing a fast-casual restaurant that serves high-quality, chef-driven food,” McCaffrey said. "We're hoping to fill that void."

Shaka Shrimp plans to offer a full beverage menu featuring both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

The restaurant will initially operate daily for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. until 9 or 10 p.m., depending on the day and season. It will also offer takeout, catering, and third-party delivery services.

Shaka Shrimp will accommodate 80 seats inside while 20 seats will be available on the Central Avenue sidewalk.

Ownership expects to receive permit approvals this month, with construction to begin shortly afterward.

If permitting stays on schedule, McCaffrey said Shaka Shrimp is targeting an opening before the end of the year.

Tampa-based Chill Bros Scoop Shop will bring its ice cream to downtown St. Pete this Friday with a pop-up at Green Bench Brewing ahead of National Ice Cream Day.

The company's ice cream truck will be parked in front of the brewery at 1133 Baum Avenue North from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Green Bench's resident food truck, Offset Sandwich Exchange, and a local flower vendor will also be on-site.

“We wanted to use the truck to introduce St. Pete to Chill Bros and give people a taste of what makes us special,” Elisa Davis, Chill Bros' events and marketing manager, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We'd love to become more involved in the St. Pete community.”

Founded in 2020 by owner Max Chillura and his siblings, Chill Bros has expanded to five Tampa scoop shops and offers 19 flavors, including Tampa-inspired options such as Café Con Leche Chunk and Guava Pastelito.

Chill Bros makes its ice cream from scratch in small batches using techniques learned during founder Max Chillura's training in Bologna, Italy, widely considered the birthplace of gelato.

Each flavor starts with a custard base made with Florida milk and cream, egg yolks, cane sugar, and salt, without using any artificial stabilizers or emulsifiers.

The company also makes many of its mix-ins, sauces, and baked goods in-house.

Ingredients include Plant City strawberries, Polk County orange blossom honey and Buddy Brew Coffee, along with imported Sicilian pistachios sourced from the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily.

Friday’s event in St. Pete will offer around ten flavors, including classics like Mad Vanilla Bean and Birthday Cake alongside customer favorites such as Double Down Oreo and The Malty Millionaire, which contains chocolate-covered shortbread squares and thick swirls of house-made salted caramel. 

Davis said Chill Bros is planning additional pop-ups in St. Pete, with details to be announced at a later date.

After more than a century in downtown St. Pete, Trinity Lutheran Church will put its historic property at 401 5th Street North up for sale.

The decision to sell, which was recently approved by the required two-thirds majority of the congregation, follows the church's 2025 merger with Hope Lutheran Church.

It will allow the congregation to bring all worship services and ministries together at Hope’s campus on 62nd Avenue North in the Meadowlawn neighborhood.

“The building is 100 years old. The congregation is 115,” Pastor Paul Gibson told St. Pete Rising. “Churches are about the people and about the impact they make on the community.”

“This decision is not about leaving behind our past, but about faithfully embracing our future,” Gibson added. “By bringing our congregation together in one location, we can focus our time, resources, and energy where they matter most – on strengthening our ministry, serving our neighbors, and continuing to share God's love for many years to come.”

The 0.45-acre property, located just east of The Coliseum, includes a 10,000-square-foot Gothic Revival sanctuary, a 14,442-square-foot education building, and 13 on-site parking spaces. The church owns an additional parking lot across 5th Street North.

Last year, the congregation successfully sought local historic landmark designation for the sanctuary, recognizing its architectural significance and role in St. Petersburg's history.

The sanctuary is also a contributing resource within the National Register Downtown St. Petersburg Historic District.

Those protections make demolition of the church itself unlikely and require city review of exterior alterations.

The vote to sell the downtown property concludes years of discussion about the future of Trinity's downtown campus.

The congregation first considered selling the property about two years ago.

While a majority of members supported the proposal, it failed to receive the two-thirds vote required under the church's governance.

This year, after two more years of discussion and reflection, the proposal was approved by the required two-thirds majority.

“It wasn't really a debate,” Gibson said. “It was about separating the emotion from the hard, cruel facts.”

Those realities included declining membership, mounting maintenance needs, and a building that had become increasingly expensive to operate.

When Gibson arrived at Trinity in 2014, he was committed to making the downtown campus work.

Like many churches across the country, however, Trinity saw attendance decline while maintenance needs continued to grow.

The congregation relied on investment income to help cover operating costs and sold parking lots over the years to help make ends meet.

Eventually, Gibson said, maintaining the century-old property had become more of a liability than an asset.

Ironically, when merger discussions began with Hope Lutheran Church last year, Gibson assumed Trinity's downtown campus would remain the congregation's permanent home.

Instead, church leaders concluded that Hope's Meadowlawn property offered the congregation its best opportunity to thrive.

Unlike the multi-story downtown church, the Meadowlawn campus is entirely on one level, offers ample parking, and provides room for future growth.

Today, Trinity has roughly 120 to 150 members, with weekly worship attendance averaging between 70 and 80 people.

Founded in 1911 by nine Lutheran families, Trinity Lutheran Church is the oldest Lutheran congregation on Florida's west coast.

The congregation first met above Ramm's Garage before outgrowing the space and launching an ambitious building campaign in 1922.

Designed by St. Louis architect E.R. Froese and built by contractor Victor A. Boeke, the Gothic Revival sanctuary was completed in 1924.

It features stained-glass windows imported from Munich, Germany, a 60-foot bell tower, and seating for more than 400 worshippers.

At its peak, Trinity held three Sunday services and counted attendance in the thousands.

Beyond worship, Trinity helped establish several Lutheran congregations throughout the region, assisted refugees settling in St. Pete, helped launch senior housing communities, and for decades has hosted recovery meetings, food programs, and other community services.

In more recent years, Trinity became known as one of the area's more progressive congregations.

Gibson became the region's first openly gay Lutheran pastor when he accepted the call in 2014, and the church has emphasized welcoming people of all backgrounds while continuing traditional Lutheran worship.

Foundry Commercial's Carlin Beekman will market the property as "Subject to Offer," allowing prospective buyers to submit offers based on their valuation of the site.

The congregation has not established a timeline for a sale, and any purchase agreement will ultimately require approval by the congregation.

Gibson emphasized that no one will personally profit from the sale. Instead, the proceeds will be reinvested into Trinity's ministry, giving the congregation the resources and flexibility to continue serving the community for generations to come.

For Gibson, the sale marks the end of one chapter—not the congregation itself.

“I really am very optimistic about the future,” he said. “I'm hoping the congregation will get excited about that as well.”

A former SunTrust bank property in Seminole could soon be redeveloped into a Dutch Bros Coffee shop and a new PNC Bank.

During a June 23 Seminole City Council workshop, council members unanimously authorized City Manager Ann Toney-Deal to negotiate and finalize a development agreement with real estate group Paradise Ventures for the property at 7405 Seminole Boulevard.

A previous version of the agreement called for demolishing the 10,000-square-foot SunTrust Bank building and constructing a new PNC Bank in its place.

Previous plans also called for Greenlane, a healthy drive-thru salad chain, to occupy a second building on the site.

However, after Greenlane withdrew from the project, Paradise Ventures secured Dutch Bros Coffee as its replacement.

"We have great existing relationships with PNC and Dutch Bros and are excited to finalize the development agreement with the city," Mike Connor, CEO of Paradise Ventures, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

Connor explained that the city requires development agreements, so the bank and coffee shop are being negotiated together under a single agreement.

The Seminole location would be Dutch Bros Coffee's second Pinellas County location, approximately seven miles from the company's first county shop at 2250 East Bay Drive in Largo, which opened in 2025.

Dutch Bros Coffee would occupy a proposed 1,200-square-foot building on the northwest corner of the property, directly across from the future PNC Bank.

The coffee shop would feature a walk-up window and a high-volume drive-thru designed to accommodate up to 20 vehicles across three stacking lanes before merging into a single pickup lane.

"Picture when you go through the Chick-fil-A, and you have someone there with an iPad — that's exactly what this is," said Brian Aungst Jr., an attorney with Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen representing Paradise Ventures during the city council workshop.

Dutch Bros Coffee operates more than 900 locations nationwide and is known for its customizable coffee drinks, teas, smoothies and signature Rebel energy drinks.

The Oregon-based chain has expanded rapidly across Florida in recent years.

The proposed 3,000-square-foot PNC Bank would occupy the southern portion of the property, closer to Walgreens. Plans include a drive-thru ATM and parking in front of the building.

The project will require several roadway improvements, including closing two existing access points on Seminole Boulevard, constructing a 135-foot right-turn lane within the state right-of-way, rebuilding portions of the sidewalk along Seminole Boulevard, improving the turn lane onto Lake Drive and resurfacing the section of Lake Drive adjacent to the site.

The development agreement must still be finalized between the City of Seminole and Paradise Ventures. Once complete, the city will advertise two public hearings, notify nearby property owners and schedule a final vote.

Connor said construction could begin in the second quarter of 2027, pending final city approvals.