New Coffee Shop Brewing on Central Avenue

The good news keeps coming for the Central Avenue corridor in the Edge Business District and the Grand Central District as food and drink options continue to increase. 

Genaro Coffee Co. opened this week at 1047 Central Ave. near Tropicana Field. 

"We are definitely about community," said co-owner Preston Johnson. "We don’t want to come here, set up shop and stick our hands out and just say ‘come buy our coffee.' We want to become part of this community."

Genaro had its soft opening Monday and will have its grand opening May 18.

The coffee shop menu will feature wraps, salads, paninis, croissants, bagels and pastries. After its grand opening, Genaro will have local art shows, poetry nights, Latin night and live entertainment. 

Genaro Coffee, named after co-owner Patricia Francati's late father, is open seven days a week from 5 a.m. - 1 a.m.

Johnson said it is important to have the shop named Genaro because it will make himself and Francati more committed to Genaro Coffee Co. 

"People will work harder for something that we are emotionally tied to," Johnson said. "When it's named after something you care about and love, you’re going to work a hell of a lot harder to keep it open than if it was some made up name."

Francati said her father grew coffee beans in Colombia and the family still owns the land today.

"In six to 12 months we hope to be brewing that coffee here," Francati said.  

"He actually planted coffee beans in Colombia," Johnson said. "The coffee shop is definitely dedicated to his name. It's a good tribute, especially to somebody with a history in coffee making."

Francati said Genaro would be filling in a need in St. Pete by having early and late hours for coffee lovers, including her.

Often craving coffee past 9 p.m. Johnson and Francati said options for java at night, or really in the morning, are very limited.

"We use to go out 9 or 10 at night to get a cup and coffee and there was nothing," Francati said.  

"Our sense of community is really important," Johnson said of Genaro's mission. "People can get coffee anywhere (in St. Pete) … unless of course it's after 9 p.m."

Brew and BBQ in the Burg

Another new restaurant, Urban Brew and BBQ, will be opening near Tropicana Field soon at 1939 Central Ave..  

You can follow along on the construction progress of Urban Brew on its Facebook page. 

"Urban is a fast casual restaurant that serves a variety of BBQ dishes, big and small, that are made from scratch and made fresh," according to the restaurant’s Facebook page. "Perfect for quick lunches, pints after work or before a Ray's game. Come in and experience the only place in town serving craft beer with craft BBQ." 

One Night Stand the Club Detroit Open

The last week of April and the first days of May saw Club Detroit and One Night Stand open in downtown St. Pete. 

One Night Stand, which replaced Durty Nelly's, opened May 1 as downtown St. Pete's only country bar. 

The country bar even features a mechanical bull named "mustache". 

Club Detroit held its soft opening April 23. The music venue, which replaces Vintage Lounge, will focus on up and coming bands and musicians. Thursday, professional wrestler Chris Jericho's band, Fozzy, will be performing. 

For a full music schedule at Club Detroit, click here. 

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