How one stolen smoker tested a St. Pete family restaurant

Before dawn on June 24, employees arriving to open McCall & Sons BBQ discovered one of the restaurant's most important pieces of equipment was gone.

The trailer-mounted smoker, built by the late Grady McCall Sr. and used for the family's barbecue catering business, had been stolen from outside the restaurant on 49th Street South, near the St. Petersburg-Gulfport line. Known for serving a $3 breakfast of eggs, grits or grilled potatoes and a choice of meat, the family-owned breakfast restaurant and catering business suddenly found itself scrambling to stay open while searching for a piece of equipment that represented years of family history.

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Council to explore blue-green roof density bonus

St. Petersburg City Council member Brandi Gabbard believes that innovation can help reduce localized flooding and building energy use.

The Council unanimously approved a new business item July 9 to further explore blue-green roofs by considering density bonuses for developers that incorporate the technology into new multifamily residential developments.

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