Velvet Coupe Sparkling Wine Lounge Coming to St. Petersburg
A new boutique sparkling wine lounge, Velvet Coupe, is slated to open in St. Petersburg in mid-May. The establishment, created by real estate broker Dina Branham, will feature boutique-style sparkling wines in an intimate setting.
- The lounge will be located at 25 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South in the EDGE District, a 1,428-square-foot space formerly occupied by Baked in the Burg. - Owner Dina Branham previously owned and operated Wine House Social, a boutique wine shop and bar in Delray Beach, from 2018 to 2022. - Velvet Coupe will have an intimate setting with a total capacity of roughly 30 to 35 guests, including an eight-to-ten-seat bar and lounge-style seating. - The business operates under the tagline "Luxury by Omission," and will feature a wine list of high-quality, sustainably produced bottles that are not tied to a single region, though there will be a strong Italian influence due to the owner's dual citizenship. - In addition to wine, the bar will offer a limited selection of champagne, beer, and a small, changing menu of plates. - The opening comes amid a surge in demand for retail space in St. Petersburg, which saw a 5.2% market rent growth and a low vacancy rate of 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022. - The launch is part of a broader trend of high-end and luxury-branded developments entering the St. Petersburg market, including recent announcements for a potential Four Seasons and the Waldorf Astoria Residences.
