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Compare hood, grease trap, walk-in, seating, patio, parking, utilities, and build-out condition before touring.
Restaurants for Lease in St. Petersburg
4 properties for lease
Bar Lounge
10 photos
For Lease
$4.17/SF/moNNN
Est. $11,974/mo all-in · 2,357 SF
540 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA2,357 sq ft
- Bar Area
- 3-Comp Sink
Full Restaurant
3 photos
For Lease
$2.08/SF/moNNN
Est. $7,488/mo all-in · 3,600 SF
4045 Tyrone Blvd N fl 3370, St. Petersburg, FL 33709, USA3,600 sq ft
- Outdoor
- Equipment Included
- Fully Furnished
- Grease Trap
Bar Lounge
5 photos
For Lease
$2.31/SF/moNNN
Est. $9,506/mo all-in · 4,115 SF
1812 N 17th St, Ybor City, FL 33605, USA4,115 sq ft
- Bar Area
- Turnkey
- 3-Comp Sink
Full Restaurant
For Lease
$3.89/SF/mo
Est. $8,496/mo all-in · 2,184 SF
1001 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA2,184 sq ft
- Walk-In Cooler
- Grease Trap
- 3-Comp Sink
- Hood: Type 1
4 properties for lease
Bar Lounge
10 photos
For Lease
$4.17/SF/moNNN
Est. $11,974/mo all-in · 2,357 SF
540 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA2,357 sq ft
- Bar Area
- 3-Comp Sink
Full Restaurant
3 photos
For Lease
$2.08/SF/moNNN
Est. $7,488/mo all-in · 3,600 SF
4045 Tyrone Blvd N fl 3370, St. Petersburg, FL 33709, USA3,600 sq ft
- Outdoor
- Equipment Included
- Fully Furnished
- Grease Trap
Bar Lounge
5 photos
For Lease
$2.31/SF/moNNN
Est. $9,506/mo all-in · 4,115 SF
1812 N 17th St, Ybor City, FL 33605, USA4,115 sq ft
- Bar Area
- Turnkey
- 3-Comp Sink
Full Restaurant
For Lease
$3.89/SF/mo
Est. $8,496/mo all-in · 2,184 SF
1001 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA2,184 sq ft
- Walk-In Cooler
- Grease Trap
- 3-Comp Sink
- Hood: Type 1
Market Context
Understanding the St. Petersburg Market
St. Petersburg has earned a national reputation for its independent restaurant scene, with multiple James Beard nominations and a chef driven culture that punches well above the city's size. The Edge District and Grand Central have led that emergence over the last 10 years.
Lease rates remain meaningfully below Miami, Tampa proper, and the Gulf Coast premium markets like Naples. Beach Drive's prime waterfront locations run $32 to $48 per square foot annually. Most of the rest of the city, including Edge District, Grand Central, and central avenue west, ranges from $22 to $38.
The market is locally driven more than tourist driven, which produces lower seasonality than Naples or Sarasota and lower revenue peaks than Miami. Concepts that succeed here typically have a strong neighborhood identity and word of mouth from a passionate local food media.
Popular Markets
Explore Other Restaurant Markets
St. Petersburg's restaurant submarkets each carry distinct customer bases, lease economics, and concept fit. Choosing the right one matters as much as the concept itself.
- Downtown and Beach Drive: Beach Drive's waterfront restaurant strip and the surrounding downtown blocks anchor St. Pete's most concentrated dining market. Year round residents and tourists overlap. Lease rates run $32 to $48 per square foot.
- Edge District and Grand Central: The Edge District and Grand Central along Central Avenue have become St. Petersburg's chef driven independent corridor, with several nationally recognized concepts. Lease rates remain more accessible at $24 to $38 per square foot.
- Old Northeast and Snell Isle: These mature residential neighborhoods drive consistent weekday and weekend traffic to nearby commercial corridors. Less direct restaurant inventory but strong demand for the spaces that exist.
- Central Avenue West and Tyrone: West along Central Avenue and into the Tyrone area, lease rates remain among the most accessible in the metro at $22 to $32 per square foot. Strong opportunity for first time operators or value driven concepts.
Tenant Guide
How to Lease or Rent Restaurant Space in St. Petersburg
Review the lease path
Ask whether the rentable opportunity is a direct lease, assignment, sublease, or turnkey build-out with existing restaurant infrastructure.
Check approvals
Confirm landlord consent, use approvals, health permits, alcohol licensing, signage, and local inspections for the address.
Model opening costs
Compare base rent, NNN, tenant improvements, equipment needs, deposits, and permit costs before submitting an offer.
For Owners & Brokers
Why Use Pepperlot to Find Restaurants for Lease in St. Petersburg
Built exclusively for restaurant real estate.
Restaurant Only Listings
Every listing on Pepperlot is a restaurant or F&B space. No warehouses, offices, or unrelated commercial properties diluting your St. Petersburg search.
Restaurant Specific Listing Fields
Hood systems, grease traps, walk-in coolers, DBPR permits, alcohol licenses, seating capacity, patio availability. The details that drive restaurant decisions are in every listing.
Florida Market Intelligence
Cuisine gap analysis, demographic data, and competitive landscape information for St. Petersburg. Make a more informed decision before committing capital or signing a lease.
Confidential Listings
Some of the best St. Petersburg restaurant opportunities are listed confidentially. Pepperlot gives you access to off market opportunities not available on general platforms.
Platform
How to Lease a Restaurant Space in St. Petersburg
A step-by-step approach to acquiring your next location.
Browse Active Spaces
Filter St. Petersburg restaurant spaces by submarket, size, lease rate, and specific features like hood systems, grease traps, outdoor seating, and existing DBPR license eligibility. Every listing includes the operational details that matter for restaurant tenants.
Identify Second Generation Opportunities
Second generation restaurant spaces save $150,000 to $500,000 in build out costs. Confirm the existing hood type, grease trap capacity, plumbing condition, and electrical capacity match your concept's requirements before committing.
Contact the Landlord or Broker
Each listing displays the contact details for the landlord or listing broker. Reach out directly. Ask for the lease term, base rent, CAM charges, NNN structure, tenant improvement allowance, and any operational restrictions. St. Petersburg landlords vary significantly in flexibility.
Negotiate Lease Terms
St. Petersburg restaurant lease rates range from $22 to $48 per square foot annually. Negotiate beyond just the base rent. Personal guarantee structure, free rent periods, tenant improvement allowance, and renewal options often have more economic impact than base rent reductions.
About PepperLot
Built for Restaurant Space Search in St. Petersburg
PepperLot organizes restaurant space searches around the details tenants need in St. Petersburg: build-out condition, hood, grease trap, seating, rent structure, and permit context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are restaurant lease rates in St. Petersburg?
St. Petersburg restaurant lease rates run roughly $22 to $48 per square foot annually, depending on submarket. Prime locations command the higher end of the range. NNN structures with CAM charges typically add $8 to $18 per square foot annually.
What submarkets in St. Petersburg have the most restaurant spaces for lease?
On Pepperlot, the most active St. Petersburg submarkets for lease listings are Downtown and Beach Drive, Edge District and Grand Central, Old Northeast and Snell Isle. Each carries different lease rates, customer bases, and concept fit. Choose the submarket where your concept aligns with the existing or growing customer mix.
What is a second generation restaurant space in St. Petersburg?
A second generation space in St. Petersburg is one that previously operated as a restaurant and retains the hood system, grease trap, plumbing, and venting infrastructure. These spaces save tenants $150,000 to $500,000 in build out costs and are the fastest path to opening, particularly in St. Petersburg's established submarkets.
Are CAM and triple net charges common in St. Petersburg restaurant leases?
Yes. Most St. Petersburg restaurant leases are NNN, meaning the tenant pays property taxes, insurance, and CAM on top of base rent. CAM charges in St. Petersburg shopping centers and mixed use developments typically add $8 to $18 per square foot annually. Always request the most recent CAM reconciliation.
Do I need a DBPR license to lease a restaurant space in St. Petersburg?
If your concept will serve alcohol, yes. The DBPR issues 4COP, 2COP, and SRX licenses for Florida restaurants. Some St. Petersburg leases include the existing license in the assignment. Others require the tenant to apply separately. Confirm with the landlord and DBPR before signing.
Can I list a St. Petersburg restaurant space for lease on Pepperlot?
Yes. Listing on Pepperlot is free. Create a St. Petersburg-specific listing with the hood system type, grease trap status, square footage, lease rate, and CAM charges. Confidential options are available for landlords replacing struggling tenants without alerting current staff.