Rejoice! Beloved pizza food truck La Strada Mobile Kitchen is in discussion to open its first brick and mortar location in the retail component of the new Coquina Key development soon to break ground at 4350 6th Street South (the former Coquina Key Plaza site.) La Strada will join popular local coffee-and-cocktails shop The Blend in the development. Discussions are also in the works for a community health center and pharmacy from Metro Inclusive Health, as well as a speciality grocer.

La Strada, a local wood-fired pizza food truck, has a strong following throughout St. Pete and a prominent presence at the Saturday Morning Market. Their menu includes pizza, calzones, artisan burgers, and salads. The Blend Coffee & Cocktails is a coffee cafe and creative cocktail bar with six locations in and around St. Pete. They offer coffee, cocktails, mocktails, craft beer, “grab and go” breakfast items, snack items and baked goods.

Agent Kelly Franzino of Retail Solutions Advisors, the company managing the leasing of the retail component, said that they are currently in discussions with a specialty grocer who will offer “deli, fresh meats, produce, seafood, and staple goods, as well as grab-and-go options and prepared foods.”

The new retail center is being built by developer Stoneweg U.S., LLC (“Stoneweg US”),and will complement 456 residential units recently approved by the City. Demolition of the former shopping center and construction of the new retail center and apartments should begin in the second half of this year.

Stoneweg responds to community’s needs

Determined to listen to the community and find the type of retailers they are hoping for, Denise Kelly, Urban Strategist with Stoneweg US, has pored over reports from a town hall meeting held by City Council member Gina Driscoll and had many conversations with neighborhood leaders. She is focused on filling the approximately 21,000 square feet retail center with businesses that the neighborhood wants, and underscored Stoneweg US’s desire to boost the local economy. “We aim to support sustainable economic growth within our community by attracting businesses that resonate with our residents,” stated Kelly. She further emphasized, “We prioritize businesses that contribute positively to the neighborhood’s fabric, ensuring that the benefits of local commerce remain within the community.” 

Stoneweg US, a boutique real estate firm headquartered in St. Petersburg with European roots (that w is pronounced like a v) purchased the property in April of 2021. Stoneweg US specializes in multi-family housing, with a focus on attainable workforce housing. They are also currently in the final stages of construction on the Lake Maggiore Apartments, a mixed-income apartment community at 3049 6th Street South.

In 2022, Stoneweg US proposed a 6- and 7-story apartment building with a small retail component on the site of the former Coquina Key Plaza but have since retooled the design in response to neighborhood feedback on the residential portion. The 456 residential units will now take the form of “garden style” apartments and will be a mixture of 1- and 2-bedroom units, with mostly surface parking. Stoneweg US hopes to have the first units on the market in 15 months from the start of construction, with the retail center opening around that same time. The rest of the development should be completed within the following 9 months.  

Kelly emphasized Stoneweg US’s commitment to “right-sizing” their projects, prioritizing residential and retail combinations tailored to neighborhood needs. The company focuses on urban infill initiatives, revitalizing neglected spaces to create vibrant, community-serving destinations. Kelly underscored that the Coquina Key development will help address the pressing need for housing in south St. Pete, and feature a retail component designed to cater specifically to the neighborhood’s needs. She further highlighted Stoneweg US’s dedication to sustainable development practices, ensuring that the project aligns with environmental and social priorities while delivering long-term benefits to the community.

With the announcements that popular local pizza maker La Strada and coffee shop The Blend will likely locate in the new retail plaza, Stoneweg US is well on their way to giving the neighborhood what they desire.

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• Lake Maggiore development with workforce housing in development