Sembler completes renovation of Disston Plaza

Shopping center developer Sembler Co. has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Disston Plaza in St. Petersburg, capping a nearly year-long rejuvenation at the 57-year-old retail site.

At the center of the renovation, Sembler razed and rebuilt a Publix store that has anchored Disston since its 1961 opening.

The Lakeland-based grocery chain’s new store there contains 45,600 square feet, just slightly less than its previous store. A new lease will keep Publix as an anchor through 2038, with other options.

The grocer’s original store, which measured 25,000 square feet, was the seventh the company opened. Today, Publix operates nearly 1,200 locations.

Sembler also added a new roof, paint, signage, LED lighting and landscaping to the 123,000-square-foot center, at 49th Street North and 38th Avenue North. The developer also spent more than $500,000 to widen 49th Street and install a traffic signal.

“Renovations can be a tumultuous time, but we believe everyone fared pretty well,” says Josh Beyer, Sembler’s senior vice president of development.

“We were able to keep all the tenants we had and managed to execute a few longterm renewals based on the improvements that were made,” Beyer adds. “It really feels like an entirely new shopping center now.”

In addition to Publix, Disston Plaza tenants include Dollar Tree, Pet Supermarket, Subway, Little Italy and Anytime Fitness.