St. Petersburg-based Kahwa Coffee opened its much-anticipated store at 6601 4th St. N. Thursday after a four-year delay due to permitting and infrastructure issues. The shop, built from repurposed shipping containers, offers a full menu of Kahwa’s sandwiches and baked goods. While the shop lacks indoor seating, there is a drive-thru, walk-up window and outdoor patio.
Kosen, a Japanese omakase restaurant, and Ebbe, which offers contemporary fine dining, were the latest Tampa establishments to receive coveted Michelin stars Thursday evening. Each received one of three possible stars and joined Rocca, Lilac and Koya as the region’s only restaurants to earn the recognition. The program is part of a paid partnership between the Michelin Guide, Visit Florida and corresponding agencies in Tampa, Orlando and Miami. Visit St. Pete/Clearwater has yet to participate.
St. Petersburg-based Jabil placed CEO Kenneth Wilson on paid leave April 15 pending the completion of an investigation into corporate policies. The company appointed Michael Dastoor, chief financial officer, to serve in an interim role. Wilson succeeded Mark Mondello as CEO in May 2023.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center recently named St. Petersburg’s Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital a Magnet-designated facility for the second time last week. Just 10% of hospitals nationwide hold the designation. All Children’s officials called the recognition the “highest nursing honor a hospital can receive.”
President Joe Biden will make a campaign stop in Tampa next week. The president will visit the area Tuesday, April 23. Additional details are forthcoming, according to a campaign announcement Thursday. Biden raised over $6 million during a January trip to South Florida.
On Monday, April 22 – Earth Day – Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s SunRunner buses will be free to ride from 6 to 9 p.m. In addition, passengers during those hours will be serenaded by local musicians, one per bus, including Susan B, Mallory Moyer, Leify Green, Nelson Mariscal, Miguel Garza and others.
The local owners of Allelo have announced that Drew Dimitrovski will serve as executive chef for their latest concept on St. Petersburg’s Beach Drive, Juno & the Peacock. Dimitrovski previously served in the same role under James Beard Award-winning chef Anne Kearny at Oak & Ola in Tampa. Dimitrovski spent several years in New York, including at Bib Gourmand recipient Momofuku Noodle Bar in the East Village.
Starting in July, Pinellas County Schools will provide daylong childcare services for kids ages 12 to 48 months. The plan is to repurpose the empty Pinellas Secondary School in Pinellas Park into a daycare center with 160 spots for district employees. The initiative would cut typical childcare costs in half, and officials hope to eventually accommodate all employees with young children.
Clearwater Gas Systems (CGS) recently sold its propane line and will no longer offer those services to over 2,000 customers throughout Pinellas and Pasco Counties. The city council approved the sale to New Jersey-based Suburban Propane, which will absorb the municipal utility’s customers. CGS will now focus on natural gas services for homes and businesses.
WalletHub recently compared the nation’s 500 largest municipalities across 13 metrics in five major categories to determine the “Most Diverse Cities in the U.S.” The personal finance platform ranked St. Petersburg No. 61 among mid-size cities and No. 152 overall. St. Pete scored lowest, No. 341, for its economic diversity. View the full report here.
The St. Petersburg Museum of History will launch a series of monthly historic trolley tours May 4. The two-hour Star Trolley expeditions are professionally curated by museum staff. The inaugural journey will explore Thrill Hill, Roser Park, Old Northeast, Coffee Pot, Mirror Lake and more. Planned future tours include the tales of Prohibition & Rum Runners, Spaniards and Natives of West St. Pete, Haunted Ghost tours, a Civil Rights tour and an Architectural tour. Details and tickets can be found here.
St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida recently filed a midcourse rate request with the Florida Public Service Commission due to lower-than-expected natural gas costs. With the Commission's approval, a typical residential customer will see their bill decline by nearly 4%. According to Duke, residents received a 6% discount in January.
