Chef Ted Dorsey opened Sunshine City Tavern, a neighborhood restaurant and bar celebrating St. Petersburg’s history with coastal cuisine and craft cocktails, at 4351 4th Street North. (Photos above ⬆️)
South Florida-based Ideal Nutrition is expanding into the Tampa Bay market with a new downtown St. Petersburg store, at 360 2nd Avenue S., expected to open in late 2025.

St. Petersburg College has named Dr. Jean Lee as dean of its College of Nursing.
Jacksonville-based IQ Fiber announced a $50 million expansion to bring its 100% fiber-optic internet service to St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, with construction beginning in May and customer service expected by late 2025. ➡️
Dr. Robert Kopec has been named vice president and chief medical officer of Morton Plant Hospital, in Clearwater, succeeding Dr. Jeffery Jensen as he prepares to retire from BayCare, in May.
St. Petersburg City Council approved $23 million for Tropicana Field roof repairs following damage from Hurricane Milton, with the project expected to be completed by December 2025, ahead of full stadium repairs by April 2026.
Gibson’s on Central, a new furniture and home accessories store owned by interior designer Tara Gibson, has opened, at 2646 Central Avenue, in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District.
St. Petersburg-based DPI Laboratory has launched Catalyst Printers, a new UV printing platform designed to deliver high-efficiency, cost-effective solutions for commercial and industrial applications.
University of South Florida researchers in St. Petersburg identified viruses in Karenia brevis red tide blooms for the first time, a discovery that could improve forecasting and potential biocontrol efforts.
Clearwater-based BayCare ranked No. 30 on the 2025 Top Workplaces USA list by USA Today and Energage, recognized for its strong workplace culture based on employee feedback.
SouthSeas Tapas, a tropical-themed restaurant and bar with French and Asian influences, will open at St. Petersburg’s SkyBeach Resort, honoring the site’s history as the former Outrigger Inn.
Sip, a coastal-casual wine bar and shop, will relocate from St. Pete Beach to downtown St. Petersburg this spring, opening a new location, at 442 2nd Street North, in the former Must Wine Loft space.

⬅️ Evara Health has named former NFL quarterback and USF alumnus BJ Daniels as manager of strategic growth and partnerships, supporting the organization’s mission to expand community health initiatives.
Sean Thongsiri, owner of several local Asian fusion restaurants, will open Plate Sushi Grill and Lounge, this summer, in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District, featuring a menu of Laos-style tacos, octopus ceviche and yakitori.
St. Petersburg-based Velera appointed Chris Watkins, as senior vice president of client service delivery, to lead innovative service initiatives for its credit union clients.