Volta founder: St. Pete, 400 Central ‘aligned perfectly’

The owners of Volta Wine + Market, a wine shop, bar and specialty grocery store, have signed a leasing agreement with Red Apple Real Estate, the development group behind the Residences at 400 Central.

The 46-story building includes condominium homes, office space and lower level retail and restaurant units. Scheduled to debut next spring, Volta – the first leased retailer – will be located in a 2,000 sq. ft. ground level space alongside the Central Avenue corridor.

Founders Zach Pace and Rachelle Tomushev specifically chose St. Petersburg for the venture after moving to the Tampa Bay area.

“We saw this great opportunity in St. Pete, how it’s thriving,” Pace explained to the Catalyst. Selecting the Residences at 400 Central for his shop’s location was not a hard decision, he added.

“We’ve been really intentional about the space and where we ended up,” Pace said. “It just aligned perfectly with where we wanted to be, the relationship with the landlord and how the space aligns with our brand identity and values.”

He believes that the property will allow them to connect with residents and tourists. “We really want to create a tight knit sense of community.” 

Hospitality is a core aspect of the concept, Pace explained. They plan to offer options for every wine drinker, with bottles ranging from $15 to $1,500. 

Pace’s background inspired the creation of Volta. He is a sommelier with 20 years of experience in the wine industry.

The entrepreneur served as the beverage director at Lazy Bear in San Francisco, and helped the restaurant receive its second Michelin star. Pace additionally was the director of operations at Aphotic, another restaurant based in San Francisco that earned a Michelin star. 

From 2019 to 2023, he ran his own online wine retail business. Once Pace and Tomushev relocated to the Tampa Bay region, he worked as the consulting chief operating officer at Ten Rooms Ybor, which closed in 2024. 

Pace felt the time was right to open a wine shop.

Tomushev’s support and professional background has been key, he added. She previously worked for Uber Eats’ marketing team, and helped launch the business in Dubai.

Pace will handle the wine curation and Tomushev will oversee the food curation. “But at the same time,” he added, “it’s a collaboration.”

They are currently traveling around the world to build relationships with vendors, beverage producers and winemakers.

While Volta Wine + Market will include groceries, the owners do not plan on offering in-house dining options.

The landlord, Pace relayed, “is hoping to deliver the spaces at the end of this year.” They will begin buildout work once they receive access to the property, he added.

Red Apple Real Estate is a division of New York-based Red Apple Group, owned by businessman John Catsimatidis.

Volta Wine + Market website