St. Pete Central Plaza Redevelops

St. Pete Central Plaza Redevelops. St. Petersburg's Central Plaza, one of the city's oldest shopping plazas, has new owners with plans to revamp the space. A group of developers bought the 3-acre site for $13 million. They plan to to build a mixed-use center that includes retail on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors. The new St. Pete complex will also feature a community space and attract shopping brands with unique concepts.

This could be a very, very good thing. The redevelopment of Central Plaza is part of a larger plan to create a new identity for the Union Central District, promoting health and transit-oriented neighborhoods. The site is near PSTA Grand Central Station and the new SunRunner rapid bus line, making it accessible to locals and visitors alike.

The Central Plaza and YMCA project are part of the developers' larger goal of creating a retail village centered around the fitness center. They aim to make the complex a community asset, adding housing that is more attainable for locals than many of the luxury apartments being built in downtown St. Petersburg. The new apartment complex will be seven stories tall and have more than 300 units. TBT

Some new offerings and returning favorites are on the menu from Tampa Bay area vendors who are setting up shop at Tampa Bay Rays games at Tropicana Field for the 2023 season. Here are some of the foods to try and where to find them at The Trop.

I'm a huge fan of Little Greek. I love their chicken souvlaki and they have really great fries too... I always substitute them for the rice. They'll have their Tampa Bay Signature Greek Salad in the third base food hall.

Look for their burgers and brats throughout Tropicana Field this season.

Another local vendor on this year's lineup.  They'll serve freshly made donuts in Right Field Street, the Third Base Food Hall and the Rays club.

Love creative milkshakes?  Look for them in the Third Base Concourse or at the Budweiser Porch in Center Field.

Try a Moonshine Slushie with moonshine whiskey and fresh fruit flavors.  Find them at the Third Base Food Hall, the Rays Club and Ballpark & Rec.

Iron Chef Ming Tsai has a  vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free handheld pocket.  Find them at Grand Slam in Right Field, Beach Drive BBQ, and new this year in their Suite A-La-Carte Menu.

Head to the Center Field Porch to get their Footlong Tater Tot or a Pretzel Dog.  Keep an eye out for their house-made mustard sauce.  Only 98 pretzel dogs will be made for each game so if you want one, go in the first couple innings!

A new one at the First Base Food Hall.  Try their Loaded Pulled Pork Nachos, Brisket Banh Mi Sandwiches and Pulled Pork Sliders.

This one's a throwback to honor  the Rays 25th Anniversary season.  This one was served up during the Devil Rays era.  It's a Nathan's Hot Dog with chili and cheese sauce served at Whoa Doggy's locations.