The St. Petersburg Housing Authority has won the Florida Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (FAHRO) 2025 Best Website-Large Agency-Award. The award recognizes the website's “visual appeal, engaging content and user-friendly design.” Its website was designed by Brooks Jeffrey Marketing Inc.
The owners of Kozuba & Sons Distillery, located in Pinellas Park, announced on social media that the facility is closing, after 20 years. “This decision did not come easily,” read Thursday’s statement. “Over the years, we’ve faced many challenges, but the most recent ones proved greater than what we were prepared to overcome.”
Sprouts Farmers Market will open another Pinellas County location Friday, Nov. 14 in the Skyway Marina District. The 23,000-square-foot store at 3411 32nd Ave. S. will be the $800 million Sky Town development's anchor retail tenant.
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 13th annual Good 'Burger Awards. Categories include Arts & Culture Creators, Favorite St. Pete Hangout, New Biz on the Block, Most Valuable 'Burger, Best of the OGs, Do-Good Organizations, Corporate Champions, Favorite Founders, Greenhouse Grown, "I've Got Someone For You" and Sustaining St. Pete. For more information, visit the website here.
Former Rep. Anthony Sabbatini will no longer serve as Treasure Island's city attorney after commissioners voted to immediately terminate his contract Thursday evening. His firm, Sabataini Law, assumed the role May 14. Commissioner Tammy Vasquez, who advocated for Sabatini's hire four months ago, cited tardiness, absenteeism, unprofessional behavior and poor legal advice as reasons to end the contract. Her motion passed 3-2, and the city will issue a request for proposals to identify a new attorney.
Two local Code Wiz franchisees have announced plans to open a second learning center in South St. Petersburg next year. Code Wiz offers fun and engaging youth programming in coding and robotics, and the center at 956 62nd Ave. N. celebrated its first anniversary Tuesday. Local owners Jen and Scott Callison opened the location two weeks before Hurricane Helene flooded their home. Hurricane Milton subsequently flooded the business, which remained operational despite the hurdles.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission, with assistance from the St. Petersburg Police Department, dismantled two illegal gambling arcades Tuesday. Agents seized 30 illegal slot machines, five gambling video game tables and $15,654 from the Fun Arcade at 901 16th St. S., and arrested two men. Agents seized 29 slot machines, one video game table and $4,266 in cash from the 49th Street Arcade at 800 49th St. S., and arrested one woman. Those arrested all face charges for possessing slot machines and running a gambling house.
Local Developer Tony Miller has announced plans for a $20 million, 250-foot-tall observation wheel that overlooks downtown Tampa's waterfront from the Channel District. Tampa WOW! (Wheel over Water) will feature state-of-the-art, climate-controlled gondolas, concessions and luggage storage for cruise ship passengers. Each ride will last 20 to 30 minutes. The city council must approve the ambitious project, which is anticipated to open in the fall of 2026.
The Tampa Bay Rays have announced that presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld have decided to step down from their roles due to the team's impending sale, which is expected to close within two weeks. While Silverman will leave the team after two decades of service, he will continue representing current owner Stuart Sternberg on an executive advisory board being established by the new ownership group. Auld will remain with the Rays as a senior advisor to ownership and the leadership team "during the transition and beyond."
Treasure Island households will save approximately $9.55 monthly and $115 annually as the city transfers its solid waste collection services to Waste Pro of Florida. The change will begin Oct. 4 for businesses and Oct. 6 for residents. Collection days will remain unchanged, and customers will start receiving quarterly bills from Waste Pro in December.
The Beachcomber Beach Resort and Jimmy B's Beach Bar will reopen Oct. 30, over a year after Hurricanes Helene and Milton decimated the area. The St. Pete Beach resort, built in 1956, renovated its first-floor guest rooms, meeting and event spaces, hotel lobby, swimming pool and courtyard. Live music will return to Jimmy B's on opening day.
Over 25 regional partner agencies and 150 people will participate in Tampa International Airport's (TPA) Triennial Mass Casualty Exercise at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The comprehensive drill, which simulates a major aircraft incident, will take place on the airfield and in the water surrounding the Courtney Campbell Causeway. TPA officials do not expect the four-hour exercise to impact flights.
