Construction begins on downtown St. Pete's new three-story food hall
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Nov 15, 2021

Construction of a food hall is underway in the old Woolworth building on Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg.

Hi Hospitality Group begins work Monday at the three-story building at 551 Central Ave. The 24,000-square-foot building is called Central Park St. Pete Food Hall and will have unique elements on each level for customers.

The old Woolworth building, which was home to breakfast restaurant Dome Grill until it closed in 2018, will “undergo a massive transformation” to become Central Park, which will integrate unique dining concepts with the “service, technology of the future and stunning interior design,” according to a news release from Hi Hospitality.

“We hope this food hall will become the central hub for international culinary experiences, delicious celebrations, and create lots of jobs and opportunities in the community,” Natalia Levey, founder of Hi Hospitality Group and James Beard Foundation 2021 WEL fellow, said.

Hi Hospitality owns Speaks Clam Bar and Kojo, which will have a presence in the food hall. The project will include fast-casual options that range from breakfast offerings to late-night snacks.

A high-end, speakeasy-style bar is also expected to be at the location. The food hall will include a rooftop bar and lounge as well as a private event space with a balcony that overlooks Central Avenue.

Hi Hospitality Group is working with Invision Advisors, Behar + Peteranecz Architecture, Barr & Barr and SSA to bring the project to life.

This is one of three food halls that in 2019 announced intentions to come to downtown St. Pete. A spinoff of Hall on Franklin in Tampa named Hall on Central is planned for the Edge District in St. Pete at 1246 Central Ave. as part of the Edge Collective, from Miami-based PTM Partners.

The team behind Tampa Height’s Armature Works announced in 2019 it would open a two-story food hall and bar at Sundial, though bankruptcy filings appear to have brought those plans to a halt.