Sunshine City Paint will open its doors in early June at 909 Central Ave. in the EDGE District. The paint-and-sip lounge takes up 1,154 square feet where Expedia Cruises used to be.
Owner Julie Gioscio wants a soft opening during the first week. Her shop sits squeezed between the shuttered Buya ramen bar and Fusillo pasta spot.
Gioscio spent five years as an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Marine Corps. Born in California, she lived in Hawaii and worked at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa before planting roots in St. Pete.
“I’ve been really passionate about art since I was young, and this opportunity feels full circle because the first career I ever wanted, even at five years old, was to be an artist,” Gioscio told St. Pete Rising. “The studio will provide easy and affordable indoor activities that will help build community.”
She ran booths at community markets earlier this year. Art has given Gioscio an outlet through the years.
Customers can pick blank canvases or premade designs — flowers, animals, and more. They can work at their own speed in a paint lounge or join instructor-guided classes.
Gioscio plans to teach some classes herself. She’ll hire local artists too. Beer, wine, and seltzers flow during sessions.
“It’s definitely about the fun of it. We’re not making fine art here,” she said.
Kids can visit in morning hours. An “Open Canvas” runs from 8 to 11 a.m. and lets children paint however they want. Guided classes for kids four or older happen after that.
The main classroom holds 16 people. A smaller lounge fits six to eight guests. Both work for birthday parties and private gatherings.
A guided two-hour class runs $35. Open canvas sessions for kids cost $10 and last three hours. Mini four-inch canvases with St. Pete themes get sold as souvenirs.
A four-person bar serves drinks and snacks — chips, pretzels, nuts, and cookies. Hours run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Mondays stay closed.