Downtown St. Petersburg’s 400 Central — the tallest residential building on Florida’s Gulf Coast — has announced its first retail tenant: Volta Wine + Market, a wine shop, specialty food market, and wine bar lounge set to open this summer.
Volta founder Rachelle Tomushev announced the venture at a press conference Wednesday, crediting the small business owners who shaped Central Avenue’s identity before the skyscraper arrived. Co-founder Zach Pace, a Michelin-recognized sommelier, said the city’s character drove their decision to locate there. “St. Pete’s allure is that balance of nostalgia and modern energy,” he said.
Mayor Ken Welch framed the new tenant as part of a broader “balanced growth” strategy, saying the city aims to pair upscale amenities with affordable and workforce housing as downtown develops. Welch also pointed to designated activity centers — including downtown, Gateway, Tyrone, and the Skyway Marina District — as the intended hubs for increased density, linked by transportation.
Not everyone near 400 Central has had an easy experience during the building’s rise. Jane Rakestraw, who has operated Schakolad Chocolate Factory across the street for more than 20 years, said her business suffered during construction due to reduced parking, but that the completed development has since helped foot traffic return.
Representatives for 400 Central say eight to ten retail spaces remain available in the building. A bank and a real estate office are among other confirmed tenants.
Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Google, & X
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater news at PIE-Sun.com
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun 
Leave a comment