St. Pete Beach movie theater to return and it could be joined by an indie bookstore

In the heat of the summer, and spring, and sometimes parts of winter and fall, it gets HOT in the Sunshine State. While we love the outdoors, on those days we crave a cool, dark place to unwind. Movie theaters offer that escape. So do bookstores. Soon, Corey Ave. in St. Pete Beach will have both.

You can catch me at Tombolo, Book + Bottle, and Wilson’s Book World on any given day in the ‘Burg. I will always drive to Tampa to hang out at Tampa Theatre or head to downtown St. Pete to catch the latest arthouse film at Green Light Cinema. I’m happy to add two more to the roster soon.

Iconic movie theatre returns to Corey Avenue

The Beach Theatre on 315 Corey Ave. has been dormant for quite some time, and its new owners fully intend to revive it and bring both live performances and new films to the venue.

“The reopening of The Beach Theatre isn’t just about watching movies—it’s about celebrating tradition, fostering community, and preserving the magic of nostalgia for generations to come,” wrote the new owners in a blog post. “We’re dedicated to fostering a sense of community and collaboration, providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talents, and inviting audiences to experience the magic of storytelling in all its forms.”

There’s no official opening timeline. We’ll update the story as more details become available.

New indie bookstore on St. Pete Beach

For more information on how to contribute to the future of The Beach Theatre, sign up for their email list or contact our managing member, Hannah Hockman, directly at hhockman@thebeachtheatre.org.

Another new business on the horizon is Read the Waves Bookstore. The indie first announced its intention to open at 435 Corey Ave. on St. Pete Beach in February 2023. Once open, it will offer new books across all genres, puzzles, games, gifts, and unique cards and stationery. It’s been a minute since any details have been released regarding the shop, we’ll update this story as details become available.

This joins up with Corey Avenue’s celebrated Sunday Market which brings together dozens of great vendors for the weekly local shopping experience.

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