One of St. Pete’s most historic buildings is getting new life, as the sprawling basement at Snell Arcade (405 Central Avenue) is being transformed into a high-end, multi-concept social club called Medina 405. The news was first reported by St. Pete Catalyst.
Medina 405 will be a sleek, modern, membership-only social club that fully embraces its past while confidently strutting into St. Pete’s future. The Art Deco cultural hub will feature several areas, including a cocktail bar, cigar lounge, private dining spaces, and wine cellar.
The news is sure to pique the interest of those who have walked by the building and peered into the spaces below the sidewalk grates. Under that ornate, century-old structure sits a sprawling basement that local legend claims once served as a secret passage for bootleggers during Prohibition, which is the most Florida twist imaginable.
And now, nearly 100 years later, that same basement is being reborn as something entirely new: Medina 405. Developer Tricera Capital is transforming the roughly 9,400 square foot space into a multi-room subterranean playground for adults. And not the chaotic nightclub kind—more the “I’d like a glass of wine, a cigar, and an intelligent conversation about city growth” kind. Think of it like St. Pete’s answer to the social clubs of the 1920s, except with better ventilation and Wi-Fi.
Photo courtesy City of St. Pete
A world of amenities in a Mediterranean Revival oasis
Members of Medina 405 will gain access to an extensive lineup of amenities: a wine cellar built inside a rumored bootlegging tunnel, a cigar room, a library, private dining spaces, lounges, a billiard room, a theater, and even a golf simulator so you can practice your swing underground like an eccentric millionaire.
Tricera Capital founder Ben Mandell told the St. Pete Catalyst that the goal is to create a place where St. Pete professionals of all generations can gather, collaborate, and enjoy a sense of community.
Construction is expected to begin once permits are approved, with a soft opening targeted for somewhere between 9 and 12 months from now, according to St. Pete Catalyst. That means Medina 405 could debut in late 2026, assuming the nearly 100-year-old building doesn’t surprise engineers with another historical quirk.
And because this is St. Pete, the club will prioritize local collaborations. Mandell and his team told The Catalyst they are currently in talks with a local cigar company to curate the humidor, and they hope to partner with nearby restaurants for catering since the club will not have a full kitchen. Instead, the focus is on creating a polished, atmospheric setting where people can unplug from the chaos above ground and experience something intimate and wildly unique.
Rendering via Medina 405
A century of history, now with mood lighting
It’s an ambitious vision, but it definitely fits the building. The Snell Arcade, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, has always been a symbol of elegance and grandeur. Built in 1926 by famed developer C. Perry Snell, the structure still shows off Italian mosaic tile work, ornate carvings, and architectural touches that make you feel like you should whisper even when no one is around.
And soon, beneath all that history and craftsmanship, Medina 405 will bring the basement back to life. A once hidden space filled with lore and quiet decay will become a place for connection, conversation, and the occasional billiards victory.
In other words: the Snell Arcade is getting a new chapter. One that blends mystery, glamour, and a little underground mischief. It’s the perfect mix for St. Pete’s next great social club.