TAMPA, Fla. — On Wednesday, the first retail shop broke ground at 400 Central, the part-residential, part-office high rise downtown. But other businesses in that area have mixed reactions. 

What You Need To Know

Central Avenue in St. Petersburg is experiencing major growth and new development, including 400 Central, the county’s tallest tower

Some businesses on Central Avenue say the construction, paired with the pandemic, has impacted their bottom line

The first retail shop to open at 400 Central broke ground Wednesday
Mayor Ken Welch says the revival of Central Avenue is by design

400 Central, the tallest tower in Pinellas County, now casts a shadow over much of Central Avenue and the businesses that’ve been there through it all.

Like La V Vietnamese Fusion, owner Thuy Lee opened the restaurant 14 years ago.

“At the time, I didn’t know the city would grow this much. Truthfully, back then, it benefitted a lot of us that are considered ‘OG.’ We helped make St. Pete what St. Pete is today,” said Lee.

For a while, Lee says the now bustling area was like a ghost town. She’s seen good days and bad, but nothing like the one-two punch that was the pandemic and the five years of construction at 400 Central.

“I’m just hanging on right now, obviously since COVID and since the construction,” Lee said. “At this point, I’d say a good 35-50% decrease.”

Lee says she’s happy that one side of the street is back open for parking, but she’s anxiously awaiting a return to normal.

Just a few doors down, Lonni’s Sandwiches owner Phillip Ingram remembers when he bought the sandwich shop right before the pandemic. He was one of the only options on the block, now he’s got stiff competition.

“I think any negative thing that’s happened has been offset by the amount of vendors and partners that have worked across the street,” said Ingram. “Today, our block is full, it’s vibrant. There’s a lot of different restaurant choices, a lot of businesses that’re open.” 

St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch, who was on hand for Wednesday’s groundbreaking of 400 Central’s first retail partner, said that revival is all by design.

“Growing up here as a kid, I could literally throw a baseball down Central Avenue on a Saturday night and not hit anything. And so we’re evolving, but we’re doing it in a way that the public still has access to great amenities,” Welch said.

Those great amenities are great for the public, but for Lee, she’s worried the area now is too saturated.

“Even with the residents moving in, it’s not going to make a dramatic impact for me, simply because, as a consumer, they have a lot of options in the area,” said Lee.

Lee and Ingram both hope the new development keeps bringing in new customers.