Central Park St. Pete Begins Phased Opening at 551 Central Ave in Downtown St. Petersburg

Downtown St. Petersburg is welcoming one of its most anticipated hospitality projects in recent years. Central Park St. Pete, a five story, 27,700 square foot food hall located at 551 Central Avenue, begins its phased opening this week after several years of planning and construction. Instead of unveiling the entire building at once, the team is introducing concepts gradually, allowing each space to open as it is fully ready.

First Concepts Debut February 19th

The initial phase begins Thursday February 19th, with operating hours set from 5PM to 10PM. During this early rollout, service will focus on takeout and delivery as systems are tested and staff settle into full operations.

Palm Avenue Deli will be among the first to open, offering a New York style deli menu that includes pastrami sandwiches, reubens, latkes, matzo ball soup, and house made bagels. Alongside it, Constellation Burger will introduce a fast casual burger concept featuring both classic builds and specialty options. This first stage represents the beginning of the ground level food hall coming to life, with expanded dine in service expected as additional phases launch.

Expanded Access Begins February 23rd

The second phase of the opening begins Monday February 23rd, again operating from 5PM to 10PM during the soft opening period. Strawberry Fields, a health focused café concept, joins the lineup at this stage, bringing lighter fare into the mix. Central Bar and the self serve beer wall are also scheduled to begin operating during this phase, adding a key social element to the space.

During this limited rollout, Palm Avenue Deli and Strawberry Fields will offer condensed menus, and breakfast service will not yet be available. As additional concepts complete final preparations, hours and menu offerings are expected to expand.

A Multi Level Hospitality Destination

Central Park is designed as more than a single food hall. Once fully operational, the building will house 14 food and beverage concepts distributed across multiple levels. The first floor will eventually include Don Ricardo’s Taqueria, Park Pie serving Roman and New York style pizza, Speaks Pasta, and Kojo Wok featuring Asian street food.

The mezzanine level is planned to feature Meadows, a dessert café, 27 North, a frozen cocktail bar, and Worth, a retail boutique. Upper floors will introduce Kojo, a full service modern Asian restaurant, along with Bar Hana by Kojo. The basement level will house The Winfield, a cocktail parlor designed as a more intimate setting. The fifth floor is planned for Night Owl, a members only social club concept that will round out the building’s layered experience.

The phased structure allows each level to open deliberately rather than rushing the entire project to market at once.

A Long Anticipated Addition to Central Avenue

The project occupies the former site of Dome Grill and has been in development for several years. Hi Hospitality Group leads the development, with initial groundwork beginning in late 2021 and vertical construction progressing through late 2022. Its location at 551 Central Avenue places it directly in one of downtown St. Pete’s most active corridors, surrounded by established restaurants, retail storefronts, and residential growth.

First Event on the Calendar

In addition to its restaurant concepts, Central Park is positioning itself as an event driven venue. The first major ticketed event listed is DJ Roy Rosenfeld scheduled for March 6th at 10PM. As additional levels open, more programming and nightlife events are expected to follow.

Downtown’s Newest Gathering Space

Large scale hospitality developments of this size remain relatively uncommon in St. Petersburg, making Central Park a notable addition to the city’s dining landscape. With multiple cuisines, bars, retail space, and entertainment programming housed within one address, the concept is designed to encourage guests to move between floors rather than visit a single destination.

As each phase rolls out in the coming months, Central Avenue will see the gradual completion of a project that has been several years in the making. For continued coverage of downtown openings and local development across St. Petersburg, explore our latest stories and check back for updates as Central Park fully comes online.