Volta Wine + Market released first look renderings for its planned wine shop and specialty market at the base of the 400 Central tower in downtown St. Petersburg, with groundbreaking expected next month.
Founded by Michelin-recognized sommelier Zach Pace and partner Rachelle Tomushev, Volta is targeting a mid-2026 opening at 400 Central Ave. The project will be the tower’s first announced ground-floor retail tenant, according to a company release.
The 2,000-square-foot concept is designed as a hybrid wine shop, specialty grocer and bar built for repeat neighborhood use rather than destination traffic. Pace previously said the goal is to make well-made wine and quality ingredients feel normal on a weeknight.
First look at the space
The renderings show a compact, retail-driven layout with an integrated bar and a rear listening lounge anchored by turntables and a curated vinyl collection.
The founders said the space will avoid televisions and QR code ordering, instead featuring analog hi-fi equipment to create what they describe as a more grounded, conversational atmosphere.
“The world’s best wine shops share a common trait: the feeling of being welcomed into someone’s home — whether you’re a novice wine lover or a luxury collector, all are treated as honored guests,” Pace said in the release.
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The bar and lounge are designed to sit within the open floor plan while reading as a distinct area through lighting and acoustics, according to the release. The space is intended to host tastings, small gatherings and private events.
Guests will be able to move fluidly between shopping and sitting for a glass of wine. The founders have said the listening lounge is meant to support the same visit rather than operate as a separate destination.
Retail mix and bar program
Volta said the shop will stock more than 300 bottles, ranging from $15 everyday selections to rare and collectible vintages.
The assortment will also include pantry staples, prepared foods, artisanal dairy and specialty grocery items sourced locally and internationally.
Pace previously pointed to products such as Florida-produced caviar, Carolina rice and goods from St. Petersburg makers as examples of the regional emphasis.
“All products focus on clean ingredients and producers dedicated to their craft,” the release said.
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The bar program will include rotating by-the-glass pours, craft beer, sake and low- and nonalcoholic options. Guests will be able to select a bottle from the retail shelves at retail price and open it on site, a model that merges retail and hospitality inventory into a single system.
Pace has said that operational discipline will be central to the business. Before moving to St. Petersburg, he co-founded an online wine company that shipped to 46 states, navigating cold chain logistics and state-by-state compliance.
That background shaped Volta’s inventory-first approach, where bottles sold at the bar and on the shelf move through the same tracking system.
“Volta’s north star is to transform your weekly errands into a joy,” Tomushev said in the release. “We want guests to leave feeling inspired and restored.”
Development context at 400 Central
400 Central is being developed by Red Apple Group. The tower adds hundreds of residential units to the downtown core, within walking distance of Beach Drive and Central Avenue.
The founders have said downtown’s growing residential density, particularly high-rise living with limited storage, supports a smaller-format specialty grocer built around shorter, more frequent trips.
CEO John Catsimatidis Sr. said Volta’s experience and product mix made it a fit for the building’s street-level retail strategy.
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“Zach and Rachelle’s entrepreneurial spirit, experience and the quality of their wine and market items are why we were so excited to announce Volta as our first tenant,” Catsimatidis said in the release.
Volta said it is raising capital through a “Founding Members” offering that includes access to events, priority allocations and concierge services. The founders said the effort is intended to support the build-out and establish an early customer base ahead of opening.
Construction is expected to begin next month, with a mid-2026 opening targeted.
Renderings should be credited to Nicholas Otzko, architectural designer.
