Crane collapse causes uncertain future for Karma Juice Bar and Eatery in downtown St. Pete

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Crane collapse causes uncertain future for Karma Juice Bar and Eatery in downtown St. Pete

Karma Juice Bar and Eatery owner Josie Barber didn't realize it at the time, but her last-minute decision to not hunker down inside her downtown restaurant during Hurricane Milton potentially saved her life.

As Milton swept through Florida last week as a Category 3 storm, its high winds caused a tower crane at 400 Central, a 46-story luxury condo tower currently under construction in downtown St. Pete, to topple onto an office building that houses Karma Juice Bar and Eatery.

While no injuries were reported in the eight-story building, located at 490 1st Avenue South, the 500-foot-tall crane allowed rainwater to pour into the floors and set off the emergency sprinklers, causing additional damage.

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Sans Market in the EDGE District struggles to stay afloat after hurricane damage

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Sans Market in the EDGE District struggles to stay afloat after hurricane damage

As Hurricane Milton’s 83 miles per hour winds ripped through St. Pete last week, the roof at Sans Market in downtown St. Pete started to peel back, leaving gaping holes throughout the store.

Heavy rain poured into the shop at 1037 Central Avenue, drenching drywall and cabinets, and ruining 20% of the inventory at the zero-waste lifestyle store that carries paper goods, plant-based products, and organic soaps.

The shop has been a community staple in the EDGE District for the past six years with the mission of helping people move away from single-use plastic, toxins, and excess packaging by selling reusable and natural material products.

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22 blocks of Central Avenue to close for 4th annual Halloween on Central street festival

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22 blocks of Central Avenue to close for 4th annual Halloween on Central street festival

As the community recovers from the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Halloween on Central, one of St. Pete’s largest events of the year, will proceed as planned.

The family-friendly open-air street festival will take place on Sunday October 27th from noon to 5:00pm.

Vampires, werewolves, and other spooky creatures of the night will take over 22 blocks of Central Avenue between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 31st Street, which will be closed off to vehicular traffic and be filled with costumes, candy, and entertainment.

The event will also showcase nearly 600 local businesses.

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Grove Surf and Coffee to rebuild St. Pete Beach shop after extensive damage from recent hurricanes

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Grove Surf and Coffee to rebuild St. Pete Beach shop after extensive damage from recent hurricanes

Lindsey Gottschling and her husband Peter had their eyes glued to the monitor, watching the live camera footage of water flooding their specialty coffee bar and retail shop Grove Surf + Coffee on St. Pete Beach.

“It was like watching a car accident in slow motion. You can't pull yourself away from looking - and then the camera feed cut off,” Lindsey said to St. Pete Rising, reliving the moment Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc on their cafe as it slammed into Florida's western coast last week as a Category 3 storm.

The popular St. Pete Beach business opened in 2020 at 7370 Gulf Boulevard.

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The Show Must Go On: Zubrick Magic Theatre asks for community's help to keep the magic alive

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The Show Must Go On: Zubrick Magic Theatre asks for community's help to keep the magic alive

The Zubrick Magic Theatre in downtown St. Pete, where magicians Chris and Ryan Zubrick typically perform family-friendly comedy and grand-scale illusions, is temporarily serving a new purpose.

The main stage inside the intimate 90-seat theatre at 1211 1st Avenue North is currently filled with air mattresses and the Zubricks’ personal items - becoming a makeshift sanctuary for the couple and their seven-year-old son, Oliver, until the theatre reopens later this month.

Like many residents in St. Petersburg, the Zubricks' single-family home suffered substantial damage from Hurricane Milton when it made landfall last week near Sarasota as a Category 3 storm.

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