Sundial owners unveil multimillion-dollar vision for iconic St. Pete development

The Sundial, a downtown St. Petersburg shopping and entertainment complex located at 153 Second Ave. N., is set to undergo an extensive, multimillion-dollar renovation.

Formerly owned by prominent local businessman Bill Edwards, The Sundial was acquired by Ally Capital Group and Paradise Ventures in early 2022. According to a news release, the new owners plan to transform the property’s courtyard with the addition of a large outdoor bar and communal green space where visitors and residents alike can gather and relax.

Behar and Peteranecz, a St. Pete-based architecture firm, has been hired to reimagine The Sundial in a way that will revitalize the property, which in recent years has lost key anchor tenants, such as Locale Market.

“We have a unique opportunity to create a centralized gathering and shopping space that can grow with our city,” Paradise Ventures President and CEO Mike Connor states in the release. “A space that complements the development landscape of St. Petersburg and that is a long-term investment in the city.”

The Sundial ownership group, the release states, has also partnered with House of Current, an Atlanta-based agency specializing in storytelling through branding, social media and design.

“Placemaking is important, and the new Sundial is designed to be extension of the community,” Ally Capital Group CEO Andrew Wright states in the release. “A place that enhances the city socially, economically and culturally. A space where celebrations are had, where business is done and where friends run into each other.”